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Civic society leaders detained
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
February 15, 2003

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition scheduled a public meeting last Thursday, 13 February 2003, at Northside community church, Borrowdale. The topic of the meeting was, "The Church: Resolving or Worsening the Zimbabwe Crisis." Police were notified about the meeting on 4 February 2003.

When Assistant Inspector Shoko arrived, the gathering was instructed to disperse. Unprovoked, the police became aggressive and assaulted several people. All the people on site complied with the order to disperse. Dr John Makumbe, Chairperson of Transparency International (Zimbabwe) was assaulted and later arrested.

Police also arrested Bishop Trevor Manhanga, President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Brian Kagoro, Coordinator of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, and Ian Makore, a citizen who had come to attend the meeting while they were having drinks at the Borrowdale food court, approximately 100 metres from the church.

"The ink is not yet dry on (Nigerian President Olusagan) Obasanjo's letter to (Australian Prime Minister) John Howard, claiming that all is normal in Zimbabwe" said Kagoro. "And yet the clampdown on democratic voices is worsening. Is this naked aggression against civil liberties and freedom what Obasanjo and (South African President Thabo) Mbeki condone?"

Commenting on his arrest, Bishop Manhanga said: "The heavy handedness of certain police details was unnecessary and a clear case of harassment. This was a meeting addressed by the church leaders and Christian commentators in a Church Hall. This a serious affront on our freedom of worship and assembly."

The four were taken to Helensvale Police Station, and held for four hours. They were later charged under Section 20 of the Public Order ad Security Act (POSA), and were released just before midnight. They were requested to report at Harare Central law and Order at 8am on Friday 14 February 2002. When they reported to the Law and Order section, the police advised their lawyer, Mr Tendai Biti of Honey and Blanckenberg" to "tell them to go home."

Dr Makumbe proceeded to Dandaro Medical Centre where his wounds were treated. He said "This is blatant harassment and intimidation. Any one who thinks torture is no longer practiced in Zimbabwe needs only to look at my face."

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition demands an end to the harassment of civil society leaders. Events such as yesterday's mean that the Constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly are effectively non-existent. The heavy handedness with which the police respond to legitimate expression of democratic rights is provocative and mischievous. Thus the coalition calls for an end to the misapplication of POSA and the unconstitutional and repeated efforts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police to disperse meetings where there is no possibility of a breach of peace.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is a coalition of more than 350 civil society organisations whose vision is a democratic Zimbabwe. The Coalition's mandate is to address the twin questions of governance and legitimacy.

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet

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