‘Blood Stained Police Cell Blankets Smell Of Dead Bodies And Blood From Accidents’-Ex-Detainees

SOME police stations in Bulawayo are reportedly providing people detained in their cells with unwashed blankets which they use to cover corpses during accidents and other mishaps.

Suspects who have been detained in cells at Bulawayo Central and Luveve police stations claimed that they were given red blankets smelling of either fresh blood or rotten flesh.

Police officers who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com on condition of anonymity also confirmed the detainees’ claims.

“Recently, I was arrested and detained for two days at Luveve police station. The blankets which I and other detainees were given emitted a foul smell.

“From the offensive stench, one could easily tell that the blankets had been used to cover a dead body,” said a former detainee at Luveve police station who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.

A police officer at Bulawayo central police station corroborated the claims.

“At Bulawayo Central detainees use the same blankets which are used to cover dead bodies during accidents. The blankets are fumigated before they are issued to suspects in cells.

The police force is broke and cannot afford the luxury of acquiring new blankets for accident emergencies,” said the officer.

When reached for comment, police national spokesperson Charity Charamba denied the claims.

“There is nothing like that. Whoever gave you that story was lying,” she said.

Last year home affairs permanent secretary Melusi Matshiya told Parliament that the ZRP was so broke that they could not afford purchasing new uniforms for the officers. Source-bulawayo24