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ZCTU National Labour Protest - Sept 13, 2006 - Index of articles
ZCTU
leaders assaulted in jail
Ray Matikinye, The Zimbabwe Independent
September 15, 2006
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=7019&siteID=1
LAWYERS representing
detained trade union and opposition activists say their clients
were viciously assaulted by police while in detention with several
sustaining broken bones and other injuries.
Armed police
swooped on the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leadership on Wednesday as they
prepared
to march to present a petition to the Finance minister and the
offices of the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe.
Thirty-four
people were arrested in Harare alone with 15 detained at Matapi
police station in Mbare while the remainder were taken to Harare
Central.
Lawyers representing
those arrested said what they saw at Matapi police station shocked
them.
Lawyer Alec
Muchadehama of Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights said it was evident his clients had
been attacked by police.
"From
the look of it they were attacked by the police as soon as they
were herded into cells," Muchadehama said.
"Some
have broken limbs. The attacks appeared sadistic because some of
the people cannot get up on their own. We have been grappling with
the police to get them released so that they can receive immediate
medical attention since Wednesday but the police have been dilly-dallying.
We believe this is out of fear that releasing them will expose their
brutality," Muchadehama said.
Late last night
Muchadehama said those detained at Matapi police station had been
transferred to Harare Central.
"We have reached a compromise that they be taken to hospital,
but they will be under police guard," the lawyer said.
"We hope
they will appear in court tomorrow (today)."
Meanwhile, the
Movement for Democratic Change said it was appalled by the extent
of the physical assaults on their supporters while in police custody.
"The
police have engaged in a flagrant violation of the rights of those
arrested," a statement by the party secretary-general, Tendai
Biti said.
"They
were called two at a time into a cell at Matapi police station where
five state security agents brutally assaulted them. They are in
a sorry state. It was a brutal assault," Biti said.
Lawyers who
visited the detained said Lucia Matibenga, the ZCTU vice-president
and MDC women's assembly chairperson, was badly assaulted
with batons and sustained a fractured arm. They said she was bleeding
through the ears.
They said Matibenga
was having difficulty in hearing and breathing while Wellington
Chibebe, the ZCTU secretary-general, sustained a suspected fracture
and a visible crack to the head.
ZCTU president
Lovemore Matombo was suspected to have fractured both arms. The
lawyers said he was immobilised with pain from the brutal assault
and needed urgent medical attention.
Others in need
of urgent medical attention included Ian Makone (MDC national executive
member), Moses Ngondo (activist), Toendepi Shonhe (MDC deputy organising
secretary), Dennis Chiwara (activist), Tererai Todini (youth chairperson,
MDC Mbare district), Tonderai Nyahunzvi (activist), Tichaona Basket,
Stephen Mutasa Mutsipa, James Gumbi, Nqobizitha Khumalo, and Rwapedza
Chigwengwa.
Biti said the
whereabouts of MDC national executive members Grace Kwinje and Kerry
Kay remained unknown, although they were last seen at Harare central
police station.
He bemoaned
the situation of those injured saying lives could be lost if no
urgent medical attention was provided.
"As if that is not enough, there are clearly no moves to take
those arrested to the remand court."
The lawyers
have since filed an urgent application in the courts seeking access
to their clients, medical help and an order to have their clients
placed on remand. "We are hopeful the application will be
heard," Biti said late yesterday.
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