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Assaulted lawyer's picture angers police
MISA-Zimbabwe
May 18, 2007

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Boldwill Hungwe a photographer with the Zimbabwe Standard and Zimbabwe Independent has been summoned to Harare Central Police Station following publication of a photograph of human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa exposing scars inflicted from severe beatings by the police.

Hungwe confirmed to MISA-Zimbabwe on 18 May 2007 that he had been phoned and ordered by the police to report to Harare Central.

The front page photograph was published by the Zimbabwe Standard on 13 May 2007 showing the battered arm and thigh of Mtetwa who is also the president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Independent reported in its edition of 18 - 24 May 2007 that a policeman who identified himself as Inspector Chinembiri, told Hungwe that the photograph in question was in violation of the repressive Public Order and Security Act.

Background

Mtetwa was brutally assaulted on 8 May 2007 when police disrupted a march by Harare lawyers protesting the illegal arrest and detention of two prominent human rights lawyers, Aleck Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni

The two were arrested on 4 May 2007 at the High Court in Harare. Muchadehama and Makoni are representing opposition MDC activists and administration staff, among them journalist Luke Tamborinyoka and Member of Parliament Paul Madzore who are in custody on allegations of having undergone terrorism training in South Africa.

Muchadehama and Makoni spent the weekend in police custody and were only released in the evening on bail of Z$500,000 (US$33) each on 7 May 2007.

Muchadehama was detained at the notorious Matapi Police Station whose conditions were declared inhuman and degrading by the Supreme Court.

During the period of their incarceration, the High Court issued three orders. The first was a "temporary order" directing the police to allow lawyers access to Makoni and Muchadehama and to allow them access to food, medical attention if necessary, and visitation by their relatives, pending the hearing of the matter the following day.

The second was a consent order which declared that the arrests were unlawful and that Makoni and Muchadehama should be immediately released.

The third ordered that Makoni and Muchadehama be produced at the High Court within an hour of service of that order. The order was served on 6 May 2007 at 18h24 meaning the duo should have been produced at the High Court by 19h24.

All the orders were ignored by the police prompting the protest march and subsequent brutal assault of Mtetwa and other Harare based lawyers who had joined in the march.

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