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News | Africa | Southern Africa

Germany slams alleged attack on priest by Zim soldiers

HARARE, ZIMBABWE Nov 18 2009 15:47
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The German government has sent a written protest to Zimbabwe over an alleged attack by Zimbabwean soldiers on a German priest last weekend, it was disclosed on Wednesday.

In a letter dated Tuesday, the German embassy expressed its "utter consternation about a violent attack on Father Wolfgang Thamm SJ by four junior members of the Zimbabwean Army on November 15 2009 at the city of Banket."

Thamm, a Jesuit priest, was stopped without apparent reason by soldiers as he was driving past an army barracks in the farming town of Banket, about 100km west of Harare, according to the embassy letter.

One soldier took the priest's glasses and slammed him in the face, the embassy wrote.

The cleric was then ordered by the soldiers to kneel on the ground in a large puddle of water.

When he hesitated to follow the order, he was "brutally kicked several times", the embassy added, calling the incident "totally unacceptable" and "particularly despicable" in view of Thamm's long years of service in Zimbabwe.

Joey Bimha, the foreign affairs permanent secretary, confirmed that the letter had been delivered on Tuesday. Bimha said Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi was out of the country and that the ministry had not yet issued a reply.

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena could not be reached for comment, but a police official in Banket confirmed that Thamm had reported the assault.

"No one has so far been arrested, that is all I can say about that incident," the official said. -- Sapa-dpa

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The greater evil is not the violent and flagrant disregard for the priest's human rights, but rather the cancerous culture that mass produces these over-politicized agents of tyranny. When the children of the revolution grow up, all they will have, are the weapons of racist hate and senseless violence. Who do they have to thank? The fathers of the revolution whose obsession with power and accumulation has blinded them to the real needs of millions of ordinary people. They have the blood of the innocent on their hands and cowardly neighbors whose quiet diplomacy whispers incessant approval. I think its time to loudly call both to account.
Rigby Wallace on November 18, 2009, 5:26 pm
The Germans doth protest too much (when it suits them).

One can only hope they could use their (new-found) protesting prowess to protest against the ongoing Western-imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwe.

If I visited Germany and I was stopped by the military (and ordered to kneel, take off my shoes - as is reportedly often done to people who "look different and suspicious" in many airports in the Western countries [including Germany]), I would need to obey the orders. Otherwise there are consequences for disobeying the country's military or police orders. Charges range from obstruction of police work, resisting arrest, causing unnecessary disruption to police work, etc.

When these security measures are applied by the African country, everybody now gets incensed, just because a "sacrosanct" whitie from Germany is on the receiving end? Come on!
nzs nzs on November 18, 2009, 6:22 pm
You will hear Dzvinyangoma saying the priest was attacked by the European people. A Zimbabwean devil who praises evil government because he is enjoying the fruits of oppression.
AMOS MAKOBA on November 18, 2009, 7:33 pm
This is not the first time that this priest has been attacked. He was attacked and knocked off his bicycle and nearly lost one of his eyes by a Banket postal worker wearing a Bin Laden badge very soon after the 9/11 world trade centre attacks in 2001. These inhuman, unpunished acts all condoned by the "honourable president" in the name of liberation, A thankless president himself a catholic who was educated by these types of missionaries.
Johann Braunstein on November 19, 2009, 12:03 am
Dont send a letter of protest. Send a C130 with some GSG9 special forces operatives to take out the chain of command responsible for the attack. Some of our ultra-nationalist brothers on these forums agree that an eye for an eye is the way to go so I cant see them having a problem with such a hard-line approach...
paul vincent on November 19, 2009, 2:31 am
The priest can count himself lucky he didn't get raped. Seems to be the new thing in Zim.... Too OLD! Whew!!!!
Marius de Kock on November 19, 2009, 9:36 am
Citizens do not have the state protection, there is no rule of law in Zimbabwe. So the soldiers are running the show. Stopping cars in the road is the Police’s job, not the army. Beating up people is for thugs not the army. The army is there to protect the people.

While some may justify this by saying because we don’t have credible opposition so its OK what ever zanu does. (which I find very confusing considering the fact that they are the opposition. they want to change the opposition so that they can remove the problem)

Even if we remove ZANU now we will need a complete overhaul of the whole justice, home affairs and defence ministries.
simbarashe dziruni on November 20, 2009, 3:27 pm
@ Paul Vincent..You real are trying to show a "white" power ego behaviour. I suppose if it was still Rhodesia you could still pull your white minority power!!! So you condon such barbaric acts?

zodwa sibanda on November 24, 2009, 4:06 am
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