When John arrived in the United States last fall he left behind a promising career, a “beautiful” house and his family. His will to keep fighting for justice in Zimbabwe was broken as he faced escalating torture and attempts on his life.

John grew up in the British colony of Zambia (now Zimbabwe). He was educated at the best schools and faced a bright future. When Robert Mugabe took over in the 1980s, John was grateful. He considered Mugabe a hero for his community.

“But then we began to see a lot of corruption in the government,” John said. “Eventually I joined with (opposition party) Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).” 

John’s work with MDC included educating citizens about their political rights — action that angered the government. 

His face clouds over as he remembers the torture he experienced at the hands of police.

“I was detained for five days with no food, no legal representation,” he remembers. “My wife would come to the prison but she was told I was not there. I couldn’t see my family, and I was beaten, whipped on my back and buttocks. It was very painful, an experience I would never ever forget.

“There were 20 of us. It was in June when it is very cold. The police would pour water on the concrete slab and strip us of our clothes. We shared one filthy toilet, full of excrement with no water to flush. We were called one-by-one to be interrogated and beaten.”

Once he was released, John’s swollen buttocks made it almost impossible for him to walk. He was denied medical aid because a police report was required for admission into the hospital. He went home where his wife treated him with smuggled medications.

When he recovered, John kept up his involvement with MDC, believing a political change was the only way to stop the widespread starvation and inequality in his country. He would be arrested and tortured four more times before deciding to leave.

“I was targeted by the youth militia,” he said. “Kidnapped in my own car and forced to drive to a motel, I was assaulted and left for dead. Then the situation turned very bad. They attempted to torch my car when I was with my family.”

John made arrangements for his wife and three children to go into hiding and he left the country. Arriving in Dallas, he stayed with a brother for a few months. He now lives with a church member, sleeping in a makeshift bed near the kitchen. During waking hours, John is a fixture at the Dallas Center for Survivors of Torture, where he can chat with friends, talk about what’s on his mind, or just hang out and have a snack.

He has a lawyer through Catholic Charities and is pursuing amnesty. Once amnesty is granted, he will try to bring over his family. He remains hopeful that they will be reunited with the help of places like the center.

“People here have been so helpful,” he says. “I thought I was doomed. I would cry. I couldn’t sleep or eat. The most helpful thing in my life is the center. It’s like my world had come to and end I was hopeless. Now it is better.”