By Staff Reporter
LAWYERS representing three human rights activists, Robson Chere, Namatai Kwekweza and Samuel Gwenzi have told the court that the arrest of their clients resembled a horror movie.
This emerged when the trio which is jointly charged with a Harare resident Vusimuzi Moyo appeared before Harare Magistrate Ruth Moyo answering to disorderly conduct charges.
Moyo is an audio expert who was going to provide technical services at a meeting the three activists were intending to attend in Victoria Falls.
Tinashe Chinopfukutwa described the human rights activists’ arrest as dramatic.
“The arrest of the accused resembles a scene from a horror movie. All the four accused persons had boarded a flight to fly to Victoria Falls at Robert Mugabe lnternational Airport.
“When the plane was about to take off, a contingent of five police officers, comprising four men and one woman, came and forced the four accused persons to leave the plane.
“The accused were not advised why they were being advised to leave the plane. They were then taken to a room on the domestic terminal and by that time the contingent or their abductors or captures had increased to 12 men.
“While they were in that room which appeared to be disused, they were taken into another room which had a pit which was about three meters deep.
“It is in that room where the accused were separately interrogated, physically tortured and also verbally abused.
“They were not advised why they were being detained incommunicado and were not allowed access to their lawyers. When we tried to reach the accused on their mobile phones, phone calls would drop.”
Chinopfukutwa said the four only got access to their lawyers briefly around 11pm on August 31.
He said the accused believe that State security personnel have the powers to order passengers off a plane.
“This point is further fortified by the fact that the accused mobile phones are now in the possession of the police which means there must been a handover.”
The court heard Chere’s passport was also confiscated and it’s not known who has it at the moment.
“The utilization of kidnapping and torture in order to secure supposed suspects is unlawful and a breach of their right not to be subjected to torture, cruel or inhumane treatment,” Chinopfukutwa said.
Jeremiah Bamu representing Chere and Kwekweza said the suspects said Kwekweza was kicked at the back by her kidnappers, who were forcing her through a narrow opening.
“One of the men involved forcibly put his shoe into her mouth accusing her of speaking too much and also accusing her of refusing to hand over her phone.
“After removing the shoe from her mouth, they also forced a metal bar into her mouth while fully aware she has just gone through dental procedures and was still healing from the process.
“When she requested to use the bathroom one of the ladies responsible of this torture asked her to cooperate first with what they wanted so that they could allow her,” Bamu said.
The lawyer further told the court all the assailants were wearing caps some were inscribed “Tafadzwa Hondo.”
Bamu said Kwekweza had an alibi.
She was not in Zimbabwe on June 27 when the protests over the release of Jameson Timba and other suspects was held.
Bamu said the four were interrogated over their trip to Victoria Falls and about demonstrations scheduled to take place ahead of the SADC Summit.
Bamu said Chere was assaulted all over his body.
“Over the past two days his eyes were bloodshot, and the assailants were using their phones to record the assault they were meeting on the suspects.”
The lawyer said they were assaulted with wooden and metal bars.
Bamu added that Chere should be attended to immediately or risks losing his kidneys, and his condition is fatal.
“As we speak, he is unable to sit upright. He has visible bruises on his buttocks. He is prepared to review that part of the body for the court to examine and for the State to appreciate his condition.
“One of the assailants, a male person, took a bucket of cloth and a rug and compelled Chere to lie down facing upwards. He was subjected to water body ingredients while he was facing upwards.
“He was dreadlocked but his assailants pulled his dreadlocks out and where they couldn’t they attempted to cut it off.They also threatened to kill him or rape his wife if there were to be any demonstrations ahead of SADC summit.”
He said the assailants told him that they knew where his wife and children were, and they could do whatever they wanted with them and there was nothing he could do about it.
Chere was made to stand up for the court to see his bloodstained shirt and his head.
Chinopfukutwa, representing Gwenzi, said his client was severely assaulted and threatened with death.
“They also told Gwenzi that they knew the schools which his children attend. They further told him to pass on a message to Takudzwa Ngadziore and Gift Siziba that they would kill them if they planned anything.
“They also told him to tell others that the boys are operating in town.”
Chinopfukutwa said they forced Gwenzi to chant “Pamberi neZanu PF, pasi naChamisa tiri zvimbwasungata.”
He said Gwenzi is still experiencing chest pains from the torture.
Gwenzi, according to his lawyer, was forced to provide his password before the assailants went through his WhatsApp messages.
One of them was reportedly filming and recording while Gwenzi was being tortured.
Kwaramba, who is representing Moyo, said they assailants immediately took his client’s phone depriving him of communication.
He said there was minimum bodily attacks on his client, but he was emotionally tortured.
“He was interrogated for long hours by different people who took turns to ask him several questions about where his children, who his wife was, his source of income and not only that… there were moments the accused would take turns to mock him about his situation
“Since that time of detention, Moyo has had recurring episodes of confusion arising from these continuous hours of interrogation,” said his lawyer, adding that they could tender a medical affidavit outlining his condition as soon as they get it.
“The pattern of arrest is disturbing. The court must be concerned and take steps beyond listening to these concerns,” he said.
Anesu Chirenje representing the State said they would make sure that the complaints are investigated.
“In fact, we have already started the investigations. The majority of the complaints have to do with rights which we have to protect,” he said.
The State then opposed bail and sought for a postponement of the hearing to Monday.
