Tsvangirai and others taken to hospital
By Violet Gonda
13 March 2007

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was taken to hospital under police guard, after he appeared in court on Tuesday. Observers who were gathered at the Rotten Row magistrates court said the opposition leader was led to court with a badly swollen head. The Crisis in Zimbabwe coalition said all the detainees, including leaders Arthur Mutambara and Dr Lovemore Madhuku, had now been taken to the Avenues Clinic but were still under arrest. Itai Dzamara said: “We suspect they might be released tonight through the High Court but they are still in detention. The hospital is circled by armed police officers.”

Several people including Grace Kwinjeh and Sekai Holland were so severely injured that they had to be taken from court to the hospital in an ambulance. The injured leaders and activists had been sitting in the courtroom for almost three hours because the magistrate failed to turn up.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, the Mutambara-MDC Deputy Secretary General said: “The MDC is deeply concerned about this deliberate delay. What we know is that the Cabinet is sitting right now and is it not far-fetched to conclude that the magistrates are unwilling to try the matter until they have received instructions from cabinet on how to deal with it.”

Lawyers had been barred from accessing their clients despite a high court order. On Monday evening Justice Bhunu had ordered the police to bring all the detainees to court Tuesday.

Scores of opposition supporters had gathered outside the Rotten Row magistrate courts. Speaking during the day from the court house journalist Pedzisai Ruhanya said: “There is a sombre mood because the state in which, particularly, Dr. Lovemore Madhuku, Morgan Tsvangirai and Grace Kwinjeh appeared in court is bad. Madhuku’s shirt is stained with blood. Tsvangirai the same. They appear like people who have been taken from Matapi Hostels in Mbare - like people who were playing in mud. You can’t believe these are political leaders and civic leaders.”

He added: “They are legitimate and lawful leaders who are being criminalised by the Regime of Robert Mugabe.

Most of the detainees were seen limping as they entered the court-house and some of them had bandages on their heads. But as the leaders were walking out of court it is reported the people outside broke into songs and dancing, singing ‘Ishe Komborera Africa.’

But five people, including ZINASU student leaders Promise Mukwanazi and Washington Katema, were arrested. Itai Dzamara said: “And two employees from the Crisis Coalition were arrested and the police also impounded a Crisis vehicle. We don’t know whether the vehicle was singing Ishe Komborera Africa!”

Incidentally the ZINASU students had been arrested and released in the morning as they attempted to address students at the University of Zimbabwe. They were then arrested again two hours for singing at the courthouse.

.......................