This
comes
after
four
memorial
plaques
installed
by
Ibhetshu
LikaZulu
and
the
affected
communities
in
Silobela
in
Midlands
and
Bhalagwe
in
Matabeleland
South
were
destroyed
by
unknown
people.
In
Silobela
the
plaques
were
installed
on
25
May
2021
and
destroyed
by
5
June
2021.
A
replacement
was
installed
on
30
August
2021,
and
it
was
destroyed
and
stolen
from
the
site
on
3
September
2021.
Similarly
in
Bhalagwe,
a
plaque
was
installed
on
21
February
2019,
and
it
was
destroyed
and
stolen
after
7
days.
A
replacement
was
installed
on
25
May
2021,
and
again
it
was
destroyed
and
stolen
soon
thereafter.
It
was
again
replaced
in
October
2021,
and
it
was
destroyed
this
year
in
January
2022.
The
Zimbabwe
Lawyers
for
Human
Rights
(ZLHR)
who
are
representing
Ibhetshu
likaZulu
said
the
continued
destruction
of
the
memorial
plaques
is
not
only
a
criminal
act
but
is
causing
grave
pain
to
the
affected
communities
and
is
hindering
the
process
of
healing
from
the
pain
and
trauma
of
losing
their
loved
ones
in
the
manner
that
they
did.
“Such
acts
will
continue
to
perpetuate
the
trauma
within
this
community
and
will
prevent
the
process
of
healing,
reconciliation
and
nurturing
unity
and
peace,”
read
the
letter.
They
called
on
the
police
to
investigate
the
cases
and
bring
the
perpetrators
to
book.
“The
communities
fear
that
if
the
perpetrators
are
not
held
accountable,
their
efforts
in
installing
plaques
and
preserving
memory
for
their
departed
loved
ones
will
continue
to
be
in
vain,
and
this
has
caused,
continues
and
will
continue
to
cause
emotional
distress
and
economic
loss,
“
said
ZLHR.
“There
is
no
law
that
prohibits
our
clients
from
working
with
the
communities
in
installing
plaques
in
memory
of
their
departed
loved
ones.
We,
therefore,
appeal
to
your
office
to
ensure
that
police
officers
do
their
work
by
investigating
this
criminal
conduct.”