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ZZZICOMP monitor detained in Manicaland province
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
July 23, 2010

On 23 July 2010, John Ziyera was arrested and detained at Dumba Business Center, Mutasa North Constituency.

John is a Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Zimbabwe Election Support Network and Zimbabwe Peace Project Independent Constitutional Monitoring Project (ZZZICOMP) monitor, who had been deployed to monitor the constitution making outreach programme in Mutasa North Constituency. He was allegedly apprehended after the participants in a meeting at Dumba Business Centre tried to physically attack him as he was regarded as a foreigner in their area. Although Ziyera identified himself as a ZZZICOMP monitor to David Chimhini, one of the Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) team leaders, the legislator proceeded to hand him over to the police under unclear circumstances.

Ziyera was then detained by the police from 15:00 hours and was subsequently transferred to Mutare Law and Order Section after three hours.

When Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) lawyers, Blessing Nyamaropa and Roselyn Hanzi attended at the police station they were advised that no charges had been levelled against the ZZZICOMP monitor.

The police continued to detain Ziyera even after the lawyers produced his accreditation card that had been issued by COPAC.

A police officer then advised lawyers that the senior police officers at Mutare police station were consulting and verifying with senior police officers in Harare on the way forward.

After being detained for almost five hours, Ziyera was released into the custody of his lawyers on condition that he appears at the Mutare Law and Order Section at 08:00 hours on 24 July 2010.

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