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ZLHR
mourns 82 year-old hero Nyakauru who succumbed to death after abduction
and assault
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
April 16, 2011
Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights (ZLHR) is deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate
and painful death of Mr Rwisai Nyakauru, the 82 year old village
kraal head, who was a victim of abduction and assault by some war
veterans and ZANU PF supporters.
Mr Nyakauru
passed on around 1:00am on Saturday 16 April 2011 at his son's
residence in the Waterfalls suburb of Harare.
Mr Nyakauru,
a kraal head for Nyakauru village in Nyanga North constituency,
was abducted from his home by some war veterans and ZANU PF supporters
on Monday 14 February 2011. They detained and assaulted him at Taziwa
Shopping Centre in Nyanga before handing him over to police at Nyamaropa
Police Station, who charged him with contravening section 36 (1)
(a) of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Mr Nyakauru
was assaulted all over his body by a group of people led by war
veteran Wilfred Pokoto with sticks and a cattle prod during his
detention. His assailants, who accused him of leading MDC-T supporters
to destroy some shops belonging to ZANU PF supporters in the area,
ordered him to lie on his stomach before brutally assaulting him.
They also took away his spectacles.
His condition
was aggravated when he was detained for three weeks at Mutare Remand
Prison together with 23 other individuals including Nyanga North
Member of Parliament
and Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) co-chairperson Hon. Douglas
Mwonzora after prosecutor Tirivanhu Mutyasiri vetoed a bail
order which had been granted to Nyakauru and 23 other detainees
by Nyanga Magistrate, Ignatio Mhene. The bail order was later reaffirmed
by the High Court.
As a result
of the malevolent and unjustified actions of the State, Nyakauru
languished in remand where his condition deteriorated. At one time
he collapsed while in his prison cell but prison authorities refused
to provide him with treatment at Mutare Provincial Hospital.
A medical report
prepared on 10 March 2011 by prison doctors at Mutare Remand Prison
show that Nyakauru suffered from chest pains, severe bronchospasm
and respiratory infection during his detention in prison.
Those implicated
in, and responsible for, his abduction, assault and detention, as
well as the police who denied him medical attention when he was
incarcerated in police cells, and the prison authorities who failed
to afford him medical treatment while at Mutare Remand prison are
complicit in, and contributed to, his sad death. These known architects
of Mr Nyakauru's death must be held accountable for the loss
of such a precious life, and we call for an immediate investigation
into his death and swift action against the perpetrators by the
prosecutorial authorities.
It is cruel,
unwarranted and unfair that such a well-lived life has ended in
this needless manner. Only bringing the perpetrators to account
will assist in ending this unacceptable culture of impunity. It
is ZLHR's firm belief that bad things that happen to good
people serve a greater good, and Rwisai's death should teach
us all something about standing up for what is right if we only
let ourselves be taught.
There are no words to describe the despondency that we feel, and
we cannot possibly imagine the shock and sorrow that has been thrust
on Mr Nyakauru's family and relatives.
To the Nyakauru
family, we are grieving with you at this sad moment as you traverse
this difficult time in life.
May God give
Rwisai eternal rest and may his soul rest in peace.
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