By Staff Writer
THE US embassy in Harare has raised concerns over the incidences of politically motivated violence in the post elections era amid calls for equal treatment of all before the law.
This follows alleged reports on the abduction of Womberaishe Nhende and Sanele Mkhuhlane on Saturday 2 September 2023.
It is alleged that three 4×4 vehicles visited Nhende’s home and forced Nhende and Mkhuhlane into one of the vehicles. It is further alleged that the duo was assaulted and tortured before being injected with an unknown substance and later dumped in Mapinga (about 73km from Harare).
This is the second time that Nhende has been a victim of abduction, torture and enforced disappearance. In June 2020, Nhende was severely tortured whilst in police custody and later fell folly to the “victim turned accused” trend.
Human rights lawyers, Douglas Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi, who are Members of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), and legal representatives of Nhende and Mkhuhlane were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) around 2300hrs on 4 September 2023.
In a related incident, the just elected Sunningdale Constituency legislator, Maureen Kademaunga was also arrested shortly after elections on allegations of attempted murder which were later dropped.
CCC deputy spokesperson and legislator , Ostallos Siziba was recently arrested on charges of fueling violence and Barbourfields and shortly after that a questionable complainant filed charges of assault against him which are still ongoing.
In a statement Wednesday the US called on Harare to cease such harassments forthwith.
“We are concerned by reports of continued politically-motivated violence and intimidation post-election. Every person, no matter their political affiliation, has the right to live free of fear and to be treated fairly under the law,” said the US.
