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Arrest and detention in Zimbabwe - Diary of the events from February 23 - April 12, 2002
Hans Christen

Thursday 28^th February 2002
I awoke to see the early morning sun filtering in through the windows. The cells used to be classrooms many years ago, so the ten windows allow in plenty of light, and the ventilation is adequate. They are however fitted with burglar bars as well as weld mesh, and the ceiling of the cells are also constructed of weldmesh, above which is a corrugated tin roof on wooden roofing trusses.

After "fall in" and counting, those who were due to appear in court were called and given an early breakfast of a slice of bread and an aluminium mug of sweet tea, dished out from a metal dustbin by the convicts who served as kitchen staff. The morning bread as well as lunch and supper are wheeled to the gates of the remand enclosure on a four-wheeled trolley. Those wearing tattered shorts and shirts were ordered to exchange their rags with other inmates wearing more presentable clothes, for it would not do for prisoners to appear in the Magistrate’s Court in rags!

I soon learned that it is advisable to keep oneself clothed only in one’s blanket early in the morning, to avoid one’s presentable clothes (if one is so fortunate as to have them!) being given to someone who is due to appear in court that day!

I was able to have a quick shower, although I did not have the correct soap. As a concession I was permitted to keep my bar of Lux for the first day, pending Jenny bringing me a bar of Lifebuoy, since I had told the authorities that I had not showered since February 22^nd. Then we were handcuffed to each other and made to squat in lines of five, till the Prisons Service bus was ready. The bus was extremely crowded – barely another standing passenger could have fitted on board.

We arrived at the court and as we drove past her I shouted a greeting to Jenny who was already waiting. This drew a swift rebuke from one of the officers – it is obviously against the regulations. We were once again placed in the court’s cells until we were due to appear before the magistrate. Once the gates swung open we were herded into the corridor behind the courtroom and we squatted whilst a string of prisoners went into court, one by one or in little groups, only to appear again a minute or two later. They had no legal representation and most were remanded in custody for another fortnight, pending further investigation by the police. Some were granted bail but did not have the money, nor did they have any friends or relatives at the Court to assist them.

When our turn came, we filed into the dock whilst our lawyers argued for the granting of bail. I was most heartened to see, amongst numerous friends, David Coltart the Member of Parliament for Bulawayo Central, sitting in the gallery. The Public Prosecutor opposed bail, saying that we had committed a serious offence and caused damage in the region of $1,3 million to a Zanu (PF) vehicle. He further argued that we were likely to interfere with the police investigation, given that the suspected actual arsonist was still at large. He called Detective Inspector Chikwanda to the witness stand and the officer told the court that he believed we all knew the whereabouts of the fugitive in an MDC "safehouse". Incidentally all I know about this elusive suspect is that his name, apparently, is Gift! The police officer also told the court that we were likely to commit similar offences, and, given the volatile political situation in Zimbabwe, our own safety could not be guaranteed unless we were incarcerated in prison.

As far as I am aware the police have not been able to produce any evidence relating me to the crime. Nevertheless, after a recess for lunch, the magistrate summed up the case for the prosecution and for the defence, and denied us bail. My heart sank, I could not believe that an innocent person could find himself in the middle of such a nightmare. We were whisked back to the cells where Miss Moyo came to tell us that the next avenue was the High Court where bail would be applied for. It was a depressing remainder of the afternoon that we spent in the court cells waiting to be taken back to prison.

Upon our arrival back in cell 7, astonished inmates greeted us, for they have all convinced themselves that if one has a lawyer one will be granted bail! I told them that we had been remanded in custody until the 14^th March to which they replied, "It’s not long, you’ll manage!" So it was back to the prison routine, and wondering how long it would take to get a bail application through the High Court, and indeed what verdict that court would deliver.

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