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Zimbabwe Briefing Issue 32
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
June 29, 2011

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Ms Cynthia Manjoro & 23 others: Victims of police persecution through prosecution

Ms Cynthia Fungai Manjoro is a 26-year-old information and technology specialist graduate from Zimbabwe National University of Science and Technology who works for a private commercial company in Harare. On 29 May 2011 her world was quickly and unexpectedly turned upside when police arrested her and her brother Steven in Harare, not on suspicion of committing any crime, but as bait to arrest her alleged 'boyfriend' whom they suspected of being connected to the murder of a police officer in the Glen view suburb of Harare. Her mother and friends testify that Ms. Manjoro is a peace-loving person with a passion for human rights advocacy.

Notwithstanding that the mother of a two year old son was nowhere near the scene of the alleged crime, she has endured life in custody for a month now together with 23 other Glen view residents who were also randomly picked up and put in custody in the absence of a shred of evidence linking them to the alleged crime. Their only crime is that they are perceived to be MDC activists. Despite Ms Manjoro providing the police with contact details and address of her alleged boyfriend whom they are after, they still refuse to release her and denied access to legal representation for the first four days in police custody since her arrest last month.

The case of Ms Cynthia Manjoro and 23 others is a classical example of how elements within the police are using prosecution on flimsy charges as a form of persecution. And yet, perhaps as an alarming signal that the Zimbabwean society is now normalized the abnormal, there has been little outcry over such a travesty of justice. If police suspect Ms Cynthia Manjoro's so-called boyfriend of committing a crime, then they should simply look for the said person without unfairly and needlessly depriving Ms Manjoro of priced liberty. On appearance in court on June 3 police confirmed that Cynthia Fungai Manjoro is being held as bait.'

As if deprivation of personal liberty is not enough injustice, Ms Manjoro and 23 others have complained in court that police assaulted them while in police custody. Ms Manjoro told the court through her lawyer - Charles Kwaramba of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights - that police assaulted her on the knees forcing her to disclose information on the whereabouts of her alleged boyfriend. Several others also showed the magistrate presiding over the case their wounds and bruises they suffered as a result of the assaults by police.

The magistrate has since ordered an investigation into the assaults of Ms. Manjoro and others but all 24 remain in custody. Close relatives worry about Ms Manjoro's health as she is asthmatic.

We bring the plight and case of Ms. Cynthia Manjoro and 23 others to the attention of the international community with a call to action in support of these victims of police brutality who are mere victims of persecution through prosecution. Circumstances of their arrest and ill treatment in police custody reinforce our calls for urgent reform of Zimbabwe's criminal justice system. We strongly urge groups like Amnesty International to adopt Ms Manjoro and 23 others as prisoners of conscience and Human Rights Watch to closely monitor their treatment to ensure that justice is done immediately.

We call on Zimbabwe authorities to immediately release Ms Manjoro and 23 others. We bring the horrific travesty of justice to the attention of SADC leaders.

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