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Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum<br />
Torture By State Agents In Zimbabwe<br />
48 22/03/2002<br />
Torture<br />
JC (male, aged 24)<br />
Alleged Perpetrator: unnamed<br />
Place where incident occurred: Chitungwiza Police Station<br />
The victim met a group of 15 police officers whilst coming from the Chitungwiza MDC<br />
offices. He was asked where he was coming from and why he was wearing an MDC t-shirt.<br />
He was then taken to the police station and asked to lie prone. Two officers beat him with<br />
baton sticks on the buttocks and legs. A report was made at Chitungwiza Police Station.<br />
49 24/03/2002<br />
Torture (blunt violence)<br />
MJ (female, aged 39)<br />
Alleged Perpetrator: unnamed<br />
Place where incident occurred: Budiriro<br />
The victim was at home after the evening meal. A child was sent to close the gate. At the gate the<br />
child was ordered by riot police to go back into the house. After a few minutes the victim heard<br />
people crying from the next room and when she went to investigate she found the whole passageway<br />
full of riot police. She was ordered by one officer to go back into her room. After a while another<br />
officer called for her to come out. The riot police started to assault her with open hands; booted feet<br />
and baton sticks, there were about eight of them. Outside they started taking turns to beat her and<br />
another girl. The assault only stopped after one of the officers ordered the eight to stop. The victim<br />
doesn’t know why they were assaulted.<br />
50 29/03/2002<br />
Abduction and kidnapping; property related; torture<br />
MM (female, aged 36)<br />
Alleged Perpetrator: unnamed<br />
Place where incident occurred: Victim's home<br />
The victim and her husband heard a knock at the door. The knock was from a policeman. When her<br />
husband opened the door, he was confronted by four members of the police all dressed in riot gear.<br />
One of them was armed. They asked him why he wasn't going outside to investigate the commotion<br />
at his neighbour's house. Before he could reply about 50 people forced their way into the house,<br />
saying that they were looking for a gun that was used to shoot one of their members. The couple<br />
was assaulted with fists, booted feet and sticks. The group destroyed a TV and radio. They also<br />
damaged a wardrobe. They burnt important documents including birth, marriage and educational<br />
certificates. The group also assaulted children that were in the house. The couple was then taken<br />
to Sizinda Hall in a car that already had their neighbours. The victim's husband was further<br />
assaulted with sticks and a hose-pipe. The victims were then taken to an unknown place where they<br />
were released after police intervention. The victim sustained swollen limbs and bruises and also<br />
experiences back and chest pains. Her husband sustained head and back injuries. He also has<br />
heavy bruises on his arms and feet and was not able to walk for three days.<br />
37
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