Two more shot and injured by police in Glen View

By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 March, 2007

Despite worldwide condemnation of the brutal assaults and torture of opposition officials and activists, police continued the indiscriminate shooting of innocent civilians in the Glen View suburb of Harare Wednesday. Dozens more opposition officials were arrested in Gweru and Kwekwe. And MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai was placed in the intensive care unit. He is reported to have received blood transfusions for internal bleeding as well as treatment for a fractured skull. Visitors say the number of arrested activists with broken arms is astonishing, indicating savage brutality. MDC officials Sekai Holland, Elton Mangoma, Gwavava, Lovemore Madhuku and Grace Kwinjeh are also in intensive care.
The case against Tsvangirai and fifty others arrested Sunday in Glen View was delayed on Wednesday when the state prosecutors did not show up. Defence lawyers said the group was released in their custody and police will have to proceed by way of summons. About 20 remain in hospital with serious injuries.

We begin in Glen View where MDC official Last Maengahama said the police arrived at about 11:00 Tuesday night and ordered all the mourners at the Tandare home to lie down. They then beat them all severely and, without any provocation, fired several random shots. Maengahama said two people were shot in the arm and were taken to hospital. This was the second time that people mourning Gift Tandare had been shot by police. Two others were shot on Monday and one of them might lose a leg.

On Tuesday, Gweru Mayor Fedel Zvidzai and Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya were arrested along with 10 others ahead of a demonstration planned for Wednesday. In Kwekwe the entire leadership of the MDC were arrested ahead of a demonstration planned for Wednesday. There are reports that they are being tortured by police in custody.

Three student leaders and two Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition members were arrested at Rotten row Magistrates Courts Tuesday allegedly for singing God Bless Africa outside the Court. Among them are ZINASU coordinator Washington Katema, ZINASU president Promise Mkwananzi, Tellington Kwashira, Emily Nkhungwa and Roderick Chirowodza.
South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki, who has received strong criticism at home and abroad for his silence, is reported to be in Saudi Arabia. But his foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mwamoepa said South Africa had taken note of the situation next door and urged the authorities in Harare to respect the rule of law.
South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance, which tabled a motion in parliament Tuesday urging Mbeki to speak out, immediately criticised this response. DA Foreign Affairs spokesman Douglas Gibson described it as shameful, “limp-wristed” and meek. Gibson added that his party wanted the National Assembly to debate Mbeki’s stance on Zimbabwe. He stressed that it was important for South Africa to take a position on Zimbabwe as they currently hold the presidency of the UN Security Council and have a non-permanent seat on it.
In other news photojournalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi who had been missing since he was arrested Sunday at the blocked Save Zimbabwe rally in Highfield, was located at Avondale police station and released Tuesday along with freelance journalist Tendai Musiyu. Mukwazhi is reported to have been beaten by police while in custody but was not badly injured.