Better Not Bitter Says Mukoko

By Taurainashe Manonge

Abducted and tortured activist Jestina Mukoko, has said that the pain and trauma she experienced in the hands of state officials last year, has left her Better and not bitter.

Speaking on December 17, 2009 at a meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Human rights forum to celebrate her City of Weimar Human Rights Award, Mukoko also director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, said it was inner strength and the knowledge that people all over the world were rallying alongside with her that kept her going.

“I believe there was a purpose in all this. It might have been a nasty experience but looking at how I now deal with people who have been tortured I have a different perspective to it.”

Mukoko’s story broke out in news media around the world when state officials bundled her out from her house in December last year, blind folded her and took her to a secret location where she was interrogated and accused of being a political detractor amongst other trumped up charges.

Whilst there she endured days of systematic torture before being moved to Chikurubi, Zimbabwe’s maximum securities prison.

Mukoko was then absolved of any of the charges by a Supreme Court ruling that proved the State had violated her human rights.

While many have been calling for retribution for what she went through Mukoko’s optimism and progressive outlook on life left many in the audience at the Human rights forum meeting in awe, as she clearly showed that event though she was beaten she was not broken.

Mukoko said that as a director of an organisation which strives for peace and human rights in Zimbabwe sometimes you don’t get to fully understand the magnitude of what people are going through.

But after having been tortured continuously for hours, also seeing how her own family was affected, Mukoko said she now understood that a lot happens to those who suffer human rights abuses and each case needs to be accorded the attention it deserves.

Solidarity and support was a key factor in riding the storm and for Mukoko recognition of unsung heroes out there whose names may never come into the limelight was something she learnt to appreciate during this ordeal.

Highlighting that she will not give up in the fight for justice and peace, Mukoko went on to share a story of a 2-year-old boy she met at Chikurubi maximum-security prison.

“Him and his mother were shackled in cast iron, yes a 2-year-old child was shackled. When he first met me he did not get my name so he called me princess. That boy gave hope to all of us in that prison cell”

“Everyday we woke up he would say lets sing that song again- we have been given another chance to Serve Him and live for Him. It made me to value life and be thankful for the opportunities that God gives”

However, given all the torturing and harrowing experiences Mukoko still insisted that she would never take a retribution stance.

“I have been brought up as a Christian and I don’t believe in revenge or retributive justice. I believe in forgiveness yes but more importantly in restorative justice where we deal with the issues in a way that is progressive.”

“The national healing platform and the current constitutional process are very key processes to ensure that there is restorative justice. Every time I was in prison I prayed to God and said You know what I have said and what I have not said, lord is my judge. I think the outcome was nothing less than a miracle.”

 Mukoko added that the work has only but just began and there is more ground that now needs to be covered. Having had to sing happy birthday for her son on his 18th birthday behind bars in a maximum security prison early this year, Mukoko said this years Christmas means a lot to her and her family and it has changed her whole outlook on the value of life and importance of family. Council of Zimbabwe Christian Leaders