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Continuing violation of health rights of opposition party leaders
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
March 20, 2007

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) expresses grave concern over the continuing violation of the health rights of opposition party leaders, in particular Grace Kwinjeh and Sekai Holland.

Both Kwinjeh and Holland were tortured in police custody on Sunday 11 March 2007 and sustained serious injuries as follows:

Sekai Holland - Multiple fractures to her left leg and left arm, severe, extensive and multiple soft tissue injuries to the back, shoulders, arms, buttocks and thighs. Injuries sustained by Sekai Holland were also worsened by denial of timely access to medical treatment which led to an infection of deep soft tissue in her left leg.

Grace Kwinjeh – A split right ear lobe, severe, extensive and multiple soft tissue injuries to the back, shoulders, arms, buttocks and thighs and a brain contusion.

The two women were prevented from seeking further medical attention in South Africa on Saturday 17 March 2007 when they were prevented from boarding an air ambulance and forcibly taken from Harare International Airport to Harare Central Police Station. Their travel documents were subsequently confiscated by Assistant Commissioner Mabunda of the Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station. At Harare Central Police Station the ambulance was instructed to take Kwinjeh and Holland back to the Avenues Clinic where they were placed under police guard.

Kwinjeh and Holland have a right to seek medical care at institutions of their choice. ZADHR calls upon the authorities that are currently violating this right to allow these two women to seek the medical care they have chosen.

On Sunday 18 March 2007, Nelson Chamisa, who was previously tortured on Sunday 11 March 2007 was attacked at Harare International Airport sustaining a fractured right orbit and sub-conjunctival haemorrhage (under the lining of the eye) as well as multiple lacerations on the face.

ZADHR condemns the continuing violations of health rights of Zimbabwean citizens and requests the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, ZiMA and other regional national medical associations to take a position on this matter and apply the influence in their capacity to put an end to these violations.

Visit the ZADHR fact sheet

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