“Police officers are not allowed to beat up people for hitch-hiking at undesignated points around town. Such people can only be arrested and charged with either public nuisance or obstruction if there is evidence to that effect,” he told The Zimbabwean in a recent interview. “It is unlawful for police to beat up suspects. Anyone beaten up by cops should report them to the nearest police station. The role of police officers is to prevent crime and effect arrests where necessary, not to mete justice.”
The Zimbabwean was investigating claims that members of the public were assaulted with truncheons by patrolling police officers for hitchhiking in restricted areas.
“I was beaten up by police recently for boarding a bus at an undesignated passenger pick-up point at the Harare Road Port Bus Station. The bus was destined for Marondera,” said Maria Kaseke of Marondera.
Another victim, Nobert Chele of Ruwa, said policemen wielding baton sticks attacked him along Robert Mugabe Road as he attempted to board a pickup truck.
“Police beat me on the shoulder with a baton stick for no apparent reason. They said hitch hiking was a serious crime and should they take me to a police station I would be beaten up ruthlessly and sent to jail,” said Chele.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights executive director, Irene Petras, said it was a violation of human rights for police to beat up suspects.
“If the police suspect that someone has committed a crime, the suspect has to be arrested not to be beaten up. If there is evidence of the suspect’s guilt, he should either be asked to pay an admission of guilt fine at the police station or brought before a court of law for a fair trial,” said Petras.
A huge number of people have had their rights abused by police but have not sought recourse to justice, due to either fear of victimisation by the law enforcement agency or ignorance of the law.
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said violations of human rights by police continued to rise despite the formation of the GNU.
The International Bar Association is on record saying that it was appalled that police brutality was on the rise in Zimbabwe. IBA said the number of lawyers denied access to their clients or who suffer threats and attacks by members of the police as they try to protect citizens’ rights has risen over the years.
Post published in: News