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Zimbabwe Anglican Jestina Mukoko honored by U.S. Department of State for human rights work
Mukoko, who serves as executive director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, a nongovernmental organization that monitors human rights abuses throughout the country, is among 10 women who received the award this year during a March 10 ceremony at the state department's Washington, D.C., offices.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the awards to Mukoko, Shukria Asil (Afghanistan), Col. Shafiqa Quraishi (Afghanistan), Androula Henriques (Cyprus), Sonia Pierre (Dominican Republic), Shadi Sadr (Iran), Ann Njogu (Kenya), Dr. Lee Ae-ran (Republic of Korea), Jansila Majeed (Sri Lanka), and Sister Marie Claude Naddaf (Syria).
Melanne Verveer, the state department's first-ever ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, said in a statement that the 10 women "have overcome personal adversity, threats, arrest, and assault to dedicate themselves to activism for human rights. From striving to give more voice to politically underrepresented women in Afghanistan to documenting human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, these heroic individuals have made it their life's work to increase freedom and equality in the world."
Mukoko "is a long-time leader in the human rights and activist communities in Zimbabwe, and, as a broadcaster for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, a pioneering role model," according to information posted on the U.S. Department of State website.
The website notes that on Dec. 3, 2008, Mukoko was abducted from her home by state security agents. "She was beaten, tortured, forced to confess to an alleged plot to mount a terrorist incursion from neighboring Botswana, and subsequently imprisoned. A court granted her bail on March 2, 2009."
Mukoko appealed her arrest and the Zimbabwean Supreme Court ruled on Sept. 28, 2009 "that state security forces had violated her human rights to such an extent as to warrant a permanent stay of prosecution in the case against her. A concurrent civil suit is still pending," the website says.
Zimbabwe has experienced an economic and socio-political crisis under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe, whose ZANU-PF party continues to hold on to power despite being defeated by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his opposition Movement for Democratic Change in the March 2008 elections.
Tsvangirai and Mugabe formed a power-sharing government in February 2009 but tensions between the two leaders have since caused the agreement to falter.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Anglicans have faced ongoing harassment and violence from Mugabe's police force in an effort to prevent them from worshipping freely in their own church buildings.
Renegade bishop Nolbert Kunonga, an avid Mugabe supporter who was officially excommunicated by the Church of the Province of Central Africa in May 2008, still claims ownership of the diocese's Anglican churches and has supported the intimidation of Anglicans in Zimbabwe for opposing his and Mugabe's leadership.
"In the election-related violence that blanketed Zimbabwe in mid-2008, women often suffered particularly harsh abuse at the hands of security agents and ZANU-PF youths," the U.S. Department of State website says. "Mukoko's abduction and subsequent court case brought the subject of politically motivated violence -- particularly violence against women -- and human rights abuses home to all Zimbabweans. Across the country, people in villages discussed 'what happened to Jestina.'
"In a country in which regime-sponsored violence and intimidation has often silenced opponents, Ms. Mukoko's ongoing legal case is an important statement against violence and oppression. Her bravery in calling to account those responsible for her abduction and torture, as well as her insistence on continuing her role as head of ZPP, has only reinforced her position as a leading human rights defender in one of the most oppressive countries in the world."
The annual International Women of Courage Award was started in March 2007 by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "to recognize women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and advancement," according to its website. "This is the only award within the Department of State that pays tribute to outstanding women leaders worldwide. It recognizes the courage and leadership shown as they struggle for social justice and human rights."
Further information about the awards is available here.
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