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ZCTU leaders speak out on prison ordeal
Caiphas Chimhete & Valentine Maponga, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
September 17, 2006

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=4810&siteID=1

Read other articles associated with the ZCTU protests

ZIMBABWE Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders yesterday described their brutal attack at the hands of the police and suspected members of the army at Matapi Police Station in Harare, as the world scaled up condemnation of the barbaric assault.

Both ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo and secretary general Wellington Chibebe said they feared for their lives in the notorious cells.

Speaking from his bed at Parirenyatwa Hospital where he is receiving treatment, Chibebe who appeared to have had the worst ordeal said he passed out after being heavily assaulted.

"We were told to get into the cells in pairs on Wednesday and upon entering, they started beating us up all over the body with batons and a knobkerrie (tsvimbo). The assault carried on for about 20 minutes. I passed out because of excessive bleeding," said Chibebe, who sustained two deep cuts to the head, a broken arm, two broken fingers and multiple bruises.

The ZCTU secretary general, who was paired with a union member identified as Chiwara, said he fainted around 4PM on Wednesday. He regained consciousness the following morning.

"What made me believe they were not all police officers is the systematic way they were beating us and the language they used. They were saying 'we were trained to kill and not to write dockets," said Chibebe, who was struggling to speak during the interview.

Chibebe said what may have made his ordeal worse, was an earlier altercation he had with the police at a roadblock a few weeks ago.

"One of the police officers was actually shouting: Ari kupi Chibebe wacho ndiye wekutirova paroadblock mazuva apera aya (Where is Chibebe? He beat up a police officer recently)," Chibebe said.

Because of the extent of Chibebe's injuries, a court session was conducted at his hospital bed in Ward B11 yesterday.

Harare magistrate Peter Mufunda, who granted Chibebe free bail, ordered a thorough investigation into the assault and directed that a full report be brought to court by 3 October. He also ordered that the perpetrators be brought to book.

ZCTU president, Lovemore Matombo who was also severely assaulted by police told The Standard yesterday that he heard Chibebe wailing, as his attackers were about to drag him into the cell at Matapi.

But the ZCTU president didn't have it easy either. He came out with swollen hands, a fractured finger and multiple bruises.

Despite the injuries they suffered, Chibebe and Matombo told The Standard the brutal attack had strengthened their resolve to fight for workers' rights.

Matombo said the protests would continue soon after their trial ends.

Matombo and 29 others were granted bail with stringent conditions. They were ordered to pay $20 000 (revalued) each, report to Harare Central Police Station every Friday, reside at their given addresses as well as not to interfere with State witnesses, who are all police officers.

Meanwhile, the brutal attack of trade unionists and opposition activists by government agents has been roundly condemned by both the international and local community, putting Zimbabwe back on the global picture for being an outpost of tyranny.

Among those that have condemned President Robert Mugabe's government over the vicious attacks are the governments of the US and Britain, trade union organisations such as the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the African Regional Organisation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

The opposition MDC, Doctors for Human Rights and the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance rounded up the chorus of condemnation.

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