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NCA demonstrators brutally attacked
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
July 26, 2007

Yesterday, 25 July 2007, almost 160 National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) activists, including National Director, Ernest Mudzengi were detained and arbitrarily beaten following countrywide peaceful demonstrations.

The NCA staged peaceful demonstrations in Masvingo, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Harare calling for constitutional reforms. However, the police pounced on the peaceful demonstrators, arbitrarily beating them up and seriously injuring an elderly woman in Harare. After the demonstration. They activists gathered at the organisation's offices where a group of riot police descended upon them. the activists were rounded up and taken to Harare Central Police Station where they further assaulted in police custody

It is alleged that the perpetrators of the violence were ZANU PF youth militia who were transported to the police station in a party vehicle. The activists were accused of trying to get to the State House through the back door. The perpetrators were quoted as saying, 'We will not arrest you, we will beat you the whole night.' The beatings lasted from 6 pm to 10 pm after which the detainees were released and some of them were taken to hospital.

Frank Nyakudya, an NCA activist from Mutare was heavily beaten and collapsed upon release. State agents accused Nyakudya leading the demonstration.

At the time of going to press the Catalyst team had established that 33 were made, 15 in Masvingo, 12 in Mutare and 6 in Gweru.

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