June 30, 2003
On Monday afternoon, June 23, 2003, on Chitsanza Farm, Harare South, 72-year-old Farm Manager Ronnie Saul (displaced from his own farm in January 2002) was asked by three youths to open his security gate in order discuss "important business". He did so and was immediately ambushed by six others who were in hiding nearby. That was the beginning of five hours of torture. Mr. Saul's hands and feet were tied up and he was slapped and kicked by the group of militia, which had grown in number to 38. His hair was tied with rubber in tight knots all over his head, and he was doused with water and a hosepipe placed under his shirt with the water running. His shoulders and arms are badly bruised.
His 70-year-old wife Norma was in the kitchen, and was prevented from leaving by other militia, who were emptying her deep freeze and pantry. Norma managed to make a phone call to her son Jamie, when the phone was snatched from her by a militia who instructed Jamie to send an ambulance urgently as "your Mother is very ill". Jamie called the MARS ambulance (which on arrival at the farm was turned away) and then raced out to the farm to his parents. On his arrival there, Jamie was subjected to even worse treatment. His hands and feet were tied with bark rope and wire. The rope was so tight his hands turned blue. He was made to kneel on the ground while he was beaten with chains, sticks, and whips made from fan belts. His left knee was beaten with a burning log from a fire. A youth delivered a karate chop to his neck, and smashed him in the face. He sustained a broken nose, lacerations above the eyes, severe bruising to his torso and chest, and burns on his leg. While Jamie was being beaten, his dad tried to rugby tackle one of the youth’s and his mother threw herself over her son in an attempt to protect him. As a result, Norma sustained a cracked thumb and severe bruising to both her arms. Their ordeal ended at about 9.30pm, when they were "allowed" to leave and seek a place of safety and medical attention.
The courage of Ronnie, Norma, and Jamie in trying to defend their lives against a mob of unruly violent militia is yet again another example of the awesome spirit of the Zimbabweans. Is this about Land, one may ask? No, it is the ongoing retribution and campaign of violence being meted out against the ordinary men, women, and children of Zimbabwe. This madness will end, and the instigators and perpetrators will be held accountable for their crimes against humanity.
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