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Police brutality needs urgent attention
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
November 05, 2012

Zimbabwe Human Rights Association is tasking responsible authorities to make an urgent intervention in the recent unparalleled trend of police brutality across the country that has in some cases seen people loosing lives.

At least three people have died between the 07th September and 05 November this year on separate cases but all under unclear circumstances in which law enforcement agents are heavily suspected to have a hand. Today's Newsday newspaper carries a story in which a Gokwe Magistrate, Shepard Mjanja has issued a warrant of arrest for a Nembudziya policeman who failed to appear in court to answer charges of torturing six suspected armed robbers held at the police station.

As reported in the article, on October 15, six suspected robbers were arrested and detained at Nembudziya Police Station. That same evening Nyafesa (the officer on duty) entered the cell where the suspects - Gerald Aluyo, Norman Murambatsvina, William Murambatsvina, Johnson Zimbgwa, Maxwell Ngondo and Chenjerai Shoko - were being held and allegedly ordered them to roll on the floor. He also allegedly assaulted them, resulting in two of the suspects losing some of their teeth while others sustained body injuries. Nyafesa was allegedly later restrained by his colleague, only identified as Constable Mukodzanjera.

In the flash edition of October 25, ZimRights extended its backup to the Matanda family in demanding an explanation to the death of Blessing Matanda who was found dead with a gun on his side in a police cell at Munyati Police station in Kwekwe. The family of the deceased demanded an explanation from the police before making any burial arrangements. In yet another case of suspects dying under suspicious circumstances in police custody, a Mhondoro family refused to bury their relative who was allegedly beaten to death by local police officers who had arrested him. The family of Eric Chivhunga of Gora Village, Mhondoro, is demanding a full explanation of circumstances surrounding his death and possible compensation before they can bury him. Chivhunga was allegedly arrested at Gora Business Centre by four police officers based at Mubaira Police Post on October 21 this year. He was found dead near the police station the following day. The police allegedly simply told the family that they had released Chivhunga around 7pm the previous evening.

Earlier on, scores of mourners some time in September besieged Makoni Central Police Station in Chitungwiza demonstrating against alleged police brutality after a suspected robber, Harrison Manyati, was allegedly tortured to death by law enforcement agents. He died on September 7 at Harare Central Hospital, six days after he was released from police custody. Family members maintained that Harison Manyati succumbed to injuries sustained when he was tortured at Makoni Central Police Station following his arrest. He had been arrested over unlawful entry and theft of a DVD player. Such cases are just a tip of an iceberg of the experience of citizens across the country. If the trend is allowed to go on, it means Zimbabwe will on average record similar cases once every month assuming that the tempo is maintained. We acknowledge that it had happened before but with the rate at which it has gone up in recent times, we believe it is high time it should be put to a halt. It is unfortunate that the people entrusted with the preservation of peace and order have decided to betray those whose interests they are employed to serve. On such a note, ZimRights demands that the behaviour be put to an end. We would also like to reiterate that these people might be in need of reorientation especially taking into account that the country is vying for two key national processes (the referendum and elections) which previously have left several people arrested; some on politically motivated grounds.

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