Magistrate throws out police report denying torture
By Tichaona Sibanda
4 June 2007

A Harare magistrate on Monday ridiculed a police report that denied detained MDC activists had been tortured in police custody and ordered a fresh probe into the assaults.

Monday’s hearing before Magistrate Gloria Takundwa was considering the question of assaults, levelled against the police, by the 30 MDC activists arrested over allegations of engaging in terrorists activities.

One of those savagely tortured in custody, Ian Makone the MDC’s election strategist, said the police report categorically denied any wrongdoing and claimed there had been no assaults or torture. Shockingly, said Makone, the police wanted the matter to be put to rest.

‘The magistrate however said the report was not acceptable and ruled they should order a fresh investigation and come up with a new report,’ Makone said.

Jessie Majome, the MDC’s deputy secretary for Legal Affairs said the police report contained naked lies as most of the activists still had visible scars from the beatings.

‘The report contained many falsehoods and it’s a joke that they deny torture ever took place when there are medical records showing that our members were subjected to some savage beatings,’ Majome said.

On Tuesday the activists will appear in court for their remand hearing and on Wednesday they will be at the High court for their bail application before Judge Ben Hlatshwayo. The activists have been in police custody since their arrest on 28th March.