Prominent activist Briggs Bomba has claimed that a recent raid on a leisure facility he operates in Harare was a targeted attempt on his life by suspected state security agents. The raid, which took place earlier this month, is described by Bomba as part of a broader crackdown on government critics in the lead-up to the ongoing SADC summit in Harare.
Bomba, who serves as the programs director at Trust Africa, reported that the raiding party, arriving in unmarked Toyota Fortuner vehicles and armed with AK-47 rifles, aggressively searched the premises. The group allegedly disrupted the facility, harassed patrons—including a retired army general—and interrogated those present about Bomba’s whereabouts.
The raid is said to be part of a wider pattern of intimidation and repression, with over 100 opposition and civil society leaders currently detained under allegations of plotting to disrupt the SADC summit. This crackdown has intensified as the regional summit approaches, raising concerns about the suppression of dissent and political freedoms.
Bomba condemned the raid as reminiscent of the repressive tactics used by the Rhodesian regime, which was known for its brutal measures against the majority black population before Zimbabwe’s independence. He criticized the current leadership in Zimbabwe, calling for an end to what he termed “Gestapo maneuvers” that echo the oppressive methods of the past.
“Leadership in Zimbabwe needs to do better than this and put an end to these Gestapo maneuvers, which too closely resemble Rhodesian-style tactics that were used to terrorize and dehumanize black Zimbabweans before independence,” Bomba said in a statement. The incident has drawn significant attention, highlighting the ongoing tensions and concerns over political repression in Zimbabwe as the country hosts the SADC summit.
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