Whereabouts of kidnapped Zimbabwe’s female human rights activist still unknown

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 will never be the same again for the family of Jestina Mukoko-- a female rights activist and Director of Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a Non- Governmental Organization involved in the monitoring and documentation of politically motivated violence. Mukoko, who once worked as a broadcaster at the state-owned monopoly, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) before turning to human rights activism, was abducted around 5.a.m. at her Norton home, about 45 km West of the capital Harare on that fateful day. About 15 men wielding guns pounced on her home after threatening the gardener at the gate, gained entry and bundled Jestina, who was coming from her bedroom still clad in a nightgown and without her spectacles. They drove away. Mukoko’s teenage son reportedly raised the alarm with human rights groups.