Cosmas Ndira, Kimberly Nyatanga and 11 others from the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) group, staged a peaceful demonstration at the High Court demanding the release of the eight Glen View residents, who are accused of killing a policeman in a highly politicised case that has targeted perceived MDC-T supporters.
The ROHR activists were detained at the Harare Central Police station and were due to appear in court on Friday. With no serious charges, the state opted to fine them instead. Group spokesman Stendrick Zvorwadza told SW Radio Africa they were taking three of their members to hospital immediately as they were subjected to ‘beatings’ and ‘serious torture’ by the police.
Zvorwadza told us the activists were arrested while only wearing their t-shirts and they had to contend with the freezing winter temperatures in detention with no blankets. He condemned Wednesday’s arrests as “a systematic ploy by the law enforcement agencies to deny Zimbabweans the right to freedom of expression.”
Zvorwadza also noted that “the conduct of the police exposes their bias and lack of will in carrying out their duties professionally in respect to the upholding of the Rule of Law.” He cited the murder of hundreds of MDC-T supporters in the run up to the elections in June 2008 and said the police had not made a single arrest.
On Thursday Cynthia Manjoro, one of the eight being held in the policeman murder case, was released much to the relief of her mother Anna Manjoro. For months she fought her daughter’s corner, pleading her innocence and explaining that she was nowhere near the scene of the crime.
Post published in: Politics