Brutalised Teachers Treated For Police Assaults Injuries

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Communications Officer Kumbirai Mafunda has indicated that  three Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) leaders and a 26 year-old female activist, who were brutally assaulted by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers during an anti-government protest, on Tuesday 05 January 2016 began receiving medical treatment after their release from police custody.

RTUZ leaders Obert Masaraure, Robson Chere and Pride Mukono sought treatment at a local medical facility after they were released late on Monday 04 January 2016 after their lawyer Gift Mtisi of Musendekwa Mtisi Legal Practitioners and a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights demanded that they be taken to hospital for treatment.

Mafunda said Masaraure, Chere and Mukono who were charged with participating in an unlawful demonstration were arrested and detained at Harare Central Police Station after ZRP officers broke up an anti-government protest held in the capital on Monday 04 January 2016 over the government’s failure and delay to remunerate civil servants and in solidarity with striking nurses and doctors at some State-run hospitals.
The RTUZ leaders sustained injuries over their bodies including on knees and wrists after they were severely assaulted by the truncheon wielding police officers.

“Rutendo Kawadza, an activist affiliated to the Zimbabwe Activists Association, joint organisers of the protest march was on Tuesday 05 January 2016 certain to spent her second night in hospital after she suffered a fractured knee bone, when ZRP officers pounced on her near Parliament Building when they suppressed the unionists and activists’ protest march,” said Mafunda.

“Masaraure and Mukono’s arrest is the second one inside one week after they were first arrested and detained on Monday 28 December 2015 for contravening Section 176 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9:23 and Section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9:23 respectively.”

The ZLHR official said Prosecutors claimed that Masaraure and Mukono assaulted a police officer, Constable Kapfunde Mandivenga and one Perkins Govere at Kuwadzana 2 Shopping Centre in Harare, a charge which they denied.

“In his defence, Mukono protested that he was actually a victim after some police officers teamed up with a suspected thief to assault him after he lost his mobile phone handset. The police officers stripped Mukono and dipped him in mud water. However, Mukono managed to initiate charges against the police officer who assaulted him and the law enforcement agent has since appeared in court and his trial is scheduled to commence on Thursday 14 January 2016,” stated Mafunda. By Stephen Jakes. Source: Byo24News