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Alert

Brutally assaulted journalists, opposition politicians, activists freed from police custody

(MISA/IFEX) - On 14 March 2007, journalists Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tendai Musiyu were released from police custody along with opposition Movement for Democratic (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other human rights activists. Their release comes after two nights in custody and severe assault at the hands of the Zimbabwean police.

The journalists and leaders of opposition political parties and civic society organisations were initially released by the police into the custody of their lawyers at 11:00 p.m. (local time) on 13 March, and ordered to appear for initial remand at Harare Magistrate Court at 9:00 a.m. the next day.

However, when they arrived at the magistrates courts on 14 March, law officers from the Attorney General's Office and the police were not in attendance. Having waited for an hour for them to arrive, defence lawyers then made a decision that if the state was still interested in pursuing the matter, they would have to do so by way of summons.

In view of that turn of events arising from the absence of the prosecutors, the defence lawyers then advised their clients to go home.

The decision will hopefully bring to an end the circus which began with the arrest of the journalists and political leaders on 11 March 2007, which saw the police defying at least three High Court orders allowing lawyers and medical practitioners access to the brutally assaulted detainees as well as to bring the accused persons to the High Court by 8:00 a.m. on 13 March, in the event of the first two orders having been defied.

Mukwazhi, a freelance photojournalist and Musiyu, who is a freelance film producer, were arrested together with Tsvangirai, National Constitutional Assembly Chairperson Lovemore Madhuku, MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti, Authur Mutambara, leader of the other MDC faction, legislator Job Sikhala, and Grace Kwinje, William Bango and Nelson Chamisa of the Tsvangirai faction. Madhuku spotted a head bandage and his left arm was in a sling when they appeared in court on 13 March, and he was subsequently referred to a hospital for treatment.

The MDC leader Tsvangirai is in the intensive care unit and is believed to have fractured his skull following the assaults by the police.

While the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)-Zimbabwe welcomes the release of the journalists and political and civic leaders, MISA-Zimbabwe deplores the heavy-handed manner with which the police continue to abuse, harass and assault Zimbabweans who have the right to their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.

As a multi-party democracy, Zimbabwe should treat opposition leaders as well as journalists conducting their lawful duty of gathering and disseminating information with the respect and dignity that they deserve.

BACKGROUND:
Gift Tandare, an MDC activist, was shot and killed in Highfield on 11 March 2007, when police cordoned off Zimbabwe Grounds, venue of the planned national day of prayer organised under the auspices of the Save Zimbabwe Campaign, leading to the arrest and assault of the journalists, opposition and civic leaders.

In a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association, on 21 February 2007, the government imposed a three-month ban on demonstrations and political rallies in Harare.