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Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
Torture By State Agents In Zimbabwe
7 04/01/2001
Unlawful arrest and detention; torture
LN (male, aged 27)
Alleged Perpetrator: Cosmore Shumba + Leonard Chimhuka + Gavakava
Place where incident occurred: Madhege, Chief Ziki, Bikita (Pakai's Homestead)
There were about 9 people. They took me from Pakai's homestead to Zaka Police Station. I was
handed over to the CIO's. They asked me to tell them who killed Bernard Gara, who Sox was and
where we were being trained. They removed all my clothes and blindfolded me with an MDC T-
shirt around my face. I was also handcuffed and put in leg irons. They started beating me under my
feet with the butt of a gun and a baton stick. They also used fists to hit me across my ribs and
diaphragm. They pulled by private parts. I was beaten for almost 45 minutes. I was also asked
about which NGO's sponsored the MDC and it's aspirations, especially with regards to the
presidential elections. They wanted me to be an informer for $10 000. We were in the cells for 4
days without eating.
8 04/01/2001
Unlawful arrest and detention; torture
IK (male, aged 28)
Alleged Perpetrator: Cosmore Shumba + Leonard Chimhuka, Gavakava + Moyo
Place where incident occurred: Madhege, Chief Ziki, Bikita
I was taken by members of the Support Unit of Fairbridge, Bulawayo, to Zaka Police Station, they
said they were taking us back to Harare because we did not come from Bikita West. We were
filmed by the ZBC and later interviewed about our personal details. I was taken to room 4 and
blindfolded. I was interrogated about MDC and the NGO's sponsoring it as well as the meeting
between Tsvangirai and Dhlakama; MDC bank accounts and aspirations of mass action; they also
asked where we were trained. We were beaten by the CIO. I was beaten with sticks and open hands
and kicked with feet and lastly my private parts were pulled. I have developed a chest problem and
have pain on my private parts, stomach and chest. I was further assaulted in the CIO rooms
numbering from 6 to 11. There were about six individuals. They also used gun butts to hit me on
the soles of my feet. In the four days we were detained we were only supplied with drinking water.
On Saturday a man calling himself the Chief Commander came insulting us and said, "I don't
bloody care if you don't eat". The member in charge of Zaka Police Station refused to see us
saying he was not part and parcel of the goings on. On 7 January we were released into CID
custody and charged with public violence. An ID parade was conducted but nobody identified us.
In our statements we denied the charge of malicious injury and were headed back to our cells. On
Monday 8 January we were taken to Bikita Magistrates court and told the Magistrate about our
ill-treatment. From court we were taken to Masvingo on remand. On 17 January we went back to
court and were remanded on $100 bail to 14 February.
9 04/01/2001
Unlawful arrest and detention; torture
BC (male, aged 24)
Alleged Perpetrator: Cosmore Shumba + Leonard Chimhuka + Moyo
Place where incident occurred: Madhege, Chief Ziki, Bikita
I was tortured and ill-treated by members of the riot police and CIO members at Zaka Police
Station. I was assaulted with clenched fists and open hands as well as with booted feet on my chest
and struck with baton sticks. They confiscated my particulars and stuffed mops into my mouth.
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