A Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights statement on Thursday revealed that a Detective Chief Inspector Run’anga and one Chief Superintendent Charles Ngirishi on Wednesday and Thursday called Mukoko’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, ordering the ZPP head to report at Harare Central Police Station to answer charges of running an “unregistered” organisation.
This development was confirmed by Solomon Zwana, the ZPP Director who in an interview with The Zimbabwean said he was outside Harare and would be meeting with their lawyer soon.
Mtetwa advised the police that the ZPP board had resolved that it be would be represented by Zwana, as Mukoko was an employee who “could not answer registration queries as she does not have board authority to speak or act on behalf of ZPP”, according ZLHR.
“However, Run’anga insisted that the police were interested in having Mukoko at their “offices”. Mtetwa also advised Run’anga that ZPP is a registered organisation and had provided its registration papers and Constitution to the police (in February).
Mukoko was in December 2008 abducted at her Norton home by State security agents before being handed over to the Law and Order section after days.
Last month, the police raided the ZPP offices in Harare’s Hillside suburb and seized several documents and other materials, saying they were looking for “subversive material and illegal immigrants”.
The police said they suspected ZPP to have contravened the Immigration Act by permitting some unidentified illegal immigrants to enter the country without a work permit and to have smuggled some undisclosed goods in breach of Section 182 (1) of the Customs and Excise Act.
Post published in: News
JESTINA MUKOKO: WHY are the Zimbabwean police persecuting Jestina Mukoko…..AGAIN? Reports are saying that they summoned prominent rights activist, Jestina Mukoko, for questioning, weeks after a police raid on her organisation. Is this a plan to intimidate the civil society ahead of the impending referendum vote and general elections?
The treatment of human rights activists illustrates the Zimbabwean government’s intolerance of peaceful public demonstrations expressing criticism of government policies. It also highlights the malicious use of the law, particularly the combination of the Public Order and Security Act and the Miscellaneous Offences Act, to allow arbitrary arrests and detentions and to facilitate a range of other human rights violations by the police.
History tells us that many have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in appalling conditions. As a form of punishment for their activism, some of those held in police custody have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and denied access to medical care, food and lawyers.
Already, the tale-tell signs are indicating that the impending elections are going to be bloody and violent. The government of our day has become an organization of violence based on no principle but the grossest tyranny. Our government no longer take their stand on right or even on the semblance of justice.
Intimidation is being used and represents the existing ruling party as something sacred and immutable. This method is in use now in Zimbabwe. We have heard of unspeakable torture, and the great perfection of the means of getting rid of men and women for months, without killing them, by solitary confinement, where, hidden from the world, they perish and are forgotten.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.â€
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.â€
We should not shed blood in Zimbabwe; enough blood has already been shed. Change is inevitable. When the time is ripe, change will happen. No one can hasten or halt it. We are reaching the end of an era.