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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Marange, Chiadzwa and other diamond fields and the Kimberley Process - Index of articles
Irregularities around Farai Maguwu's detention
The
Law Society of Zimbabwe
June 24, 2010
The Law Society
of Zimbabwe would like to express serious concern regarding the
irregularities around Farai Maguwu's detention.
Farai Maguwu
the director of Research
and Development Centre in Mutare was arrested on the 3rd of
June 2010 after he handed himself over to the police in the presence
of his lawyer. He was arrested on allegations of publishing falsehoods
to a Kimberly Process Monitor.
Since the time
of his arrest concerns pertaining to his inhumane treatment during
his detention have arisen. It is reported that on 4 June 2010 he
was forced to sleep on the cold floor after blankets were taken
away from him. Resultantly he developed a fever and throat infections
and despite this he was consistently denied access to medical attention
despite a Court Order of 10 June ordering that he be examined by
a medical doctor. Most disturbing is the fact that Farai was denied
access to his prescribed medication and this resulted in him being
admitted at Avenues Clinic in Harare after his condition deteriorated.
It has also
been noted with concern that Farai was kept in detention without
a warrant for further detention which should be have been obtained
after the expiry of 48 hours, if his further detention was justified.
Farai Maguwu at times has been illegally removed from remand prison
to various places without his consent or that of his lawyers, which
lawyers at times have experienced challenges and hindrances in trying
to access him. At one time Farai Maguwu was illegally removed from
Remand custody and taken to Matapi Police Station, which is arguably
the country's worst holding cells and has been condemned by
the Supreme Court as not fit for incarceration of humans. It can
be concluded that this meant torment his psychological integrity
It is a fundamental
right for all people of Zimbabwe not to be subjected to inhumane
or degrading punishment, further the Constitution guarantees the
right for any accused person to be presumed innocent until proven
guilty beyond reasonable doubt and for such persons to have access
to a legal practitioners of their choice.Thus the LSZ advocates
for the observance and respect for human rights and the rule of
Law in the country and thereby calls upon Law enforcement agents
to:
- Treat Farai Maguwu
with due respect and human dignity which cannot be taken away
despite the charges he is facing.
- Desist from denying
and or tempering with his right to access medication.
- Desist from interfering
with Farai Maguwu's lawyers in the course of their duties.
- Stop intimidating
and or subjecting Farai to any form of duress.
Visit the Law
Society fact
sheet
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