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Zimbabwe police arrest and detain breastfeeding mother, toddler and five villagers after protest over distribution of farming inputs
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
November 19, 2013

Police in Nyanga, Manicaland province have arrested and detained six villagers after they protested against the partisan distribution of some farming inputs sourced under a government-run scheme.

The five villagers Lovemore Kenende, Gumisai Kenende, Norman Madakwenda, Chrispen Tabwa, Lawrence Madakwenda and Charity Katerere, who is breastfeeding her toddler were arrested and charged with theft in contravention of Section 113 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The police claimed that the six villagers stole some 10kg bags of maize seed which were meant to be given to some villagers under the government-run agricultural inputs assistance scheme.

But the six villagers, who deny the charges argue that they were denied access to the maize seed after they were accused of supporting the MDC-T party instead of President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party. Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is representing the six villagers.

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