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Burial Disrupted by the Police
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
April 24, 2003

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is horrified by the behaviour demonstrated today by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza (approx 20 kms outside Harare).

Opposition activist Tonderai Machiridza died in hospital on Friday April 18, 2003 (Independence Day), suffering from injuries received while he was in police custody. Mourners were yesterday assaulted by members of the ZRP who came to break up the wake. Machiridza’s mother and 57 other mourners who did not escape the police were arrested and taken to St Mary’s Police Station, where they were further assaulted. They have not been released, and Machiridza’s body was also taken into police custody.

More mourners gathered today, but the police would not allow them access to the body. The police had advised the detainees that they might be required to bury Machiridza under police supervision, which supervision is not necessary.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition condemns this egregious moral affront. An individual’s political affiliation or personal beliefs must not be allowed to prejudice his or her burial, and the family’s grieving process. The fact that Machiridza died in hospital after he was assaulted by members of the police force is offensive and demonstrates the brutality of the ZRP. The fact that the police now will not allow his family to mourn their loss and bury Machiridza in peace with the dignity he deserves adds insult to injury. This action demonstrates that the violence which permeates Zimbabwean society knows no bounds. To extend violence to the burial of a dead relative is inhumane and unacceptable.

The Coalition calls on the ZRP in St Mary’s to release the mourners who are in custody, and to allow the Machiridza family to mourn their loss and bury him with the respect he is owed. Further, the Coalition urges members of the ZRP to denounce this behaviour by their colleagues. It calls on the police to instead ensure an immediate return to a professional and non-partisan execution of their duties to serve and protect all Zimbabweans.

Please print this message out and distribute it at your workplace. In addition, feel free to forward this message to your contacts and colleagues.

Crisis in Zimbabwe is a grouping of civil society organisations and coalitions whose vision is a democratic Zimbabwe. The Coalition’s mandate is to address the twin questions of governance and legitimacy.

Tel/Fax: +263 4 747817
Email: info@crisis.co.zw

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition fact sheet

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