I’m used to rough treatment: Elizabeth Tsvangirai

By Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Elizabeth Macheka hit back at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison guards and officials who tried to humiliate her by attempting to stop her visiting some of the 29 MDC-T activists who are in custody.

“They think they are irking me, but what they do not know is that I am actually used to rough treatment and I do not know much about VIP treatment,” she said after she arrived in a chauffeured limousine.

“They will not break my spirit. Some of us are not used to protocol and this idea of being treated as officials. I can make do with being ordinary and I will definitely come back,” said Elizabeth.

MDC-T Youth Assembly leader Solomon Madzore who was arrested in October last year on dubious charges of killing a policeman has been in custody for 12 months while the other 28 arrested in May have spent over 16 months.

Madzore chanted the party slogan before thanking Elizabeth.

“We are honoured. Thank you very much; our message is very clear, the struggle continues. We remain unshaken,” he said.

“Tell the PM that we are together in the struggle; congratulate him for the 13-year anniversary and tell him we have seen the prophetess (Mai Tsvangirai) he has sent us,” Madzore said.

The bigger group of 20 activists is being held at Harare Remand Prison, four women at Chikurubi Women Prison with the main jail holding Madzore and two other men plus Rebecca Mafikeni and Yvonne Musarurwa.

Elizabeth visited all three places praying before leaving and encouraging the detainees to remain hopeful. “God knows. He is in charge and you should not grow weary. The finishing line is in sight and soon you will be out,” she said.