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Gahaodus to be freed
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
March 05, 2010

After spending a month incarcerated at Masvingo remand prison on alleged charges of immigration transgression, Gahaodus will finally get a feel of freedom after a rescue intervention by the South African Embassy in Harare.

ROHR Zimbabwe can reliably confirm that the South African High Commissioner in Zimbabwe has today confirmed that one of the two detainees held at Masvingo remand prison is indeed a South African citizen and the embassy will soon facilitate his eventual release to South Africa after the finalization of handover papers. The plight of the two detainees was unearthed by ROHR Zimbabwe following a tip off which led to agitating efforts for their release.

Despite the fact that the Zimbabwean constitution states that a person is supposed to be presented before a judge within reasonable time of not more than 48 hours after arrest, the future remains gloomy for Marco Paulo Santos Oliveira (18) who was arrested together with Gahaodus. His hopes of ending the horrific incarceration have hit a stumbling block as South African officials could not identify him as a citizen of South Africa in order for him to qualify for assistance from the embassy. He is now confronted by a solitary stay in a foreign prison without the slightest hope of when the light of freedom will shine upon him.

Marco's only available option is to pay US $1000 to the Zimbabwe immigration office or risk staying in prison at the mercy of the Zimbabwean government. Marco and Gahaodus were arrested on the 2nd of February this year by Zimbabwean law enforcement officials for crossing over to Zimbabwe without legal travelling documents but the two deny any involvement in illegal activities.

ROHR Zimbabwe is appealing to the rest of the world for anyone on information which can be useful to identify Marco Paulo Santos's country of origin to contact ROHR Zimbabwe through email at rohrzimbabwe@gmail.com

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