Doctor describes ZCTU injuries as severe

By Violet Gonda
15 September 2006

“It’s really terrible and really brutal” were the words used by Dr Reginald Matchaba Hove of the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights to describe the severe injuries and the torture of the arrested officials on Thursday evening. After two days in police custody the victims’ lawyer Alec Muchadehama successfully applied to the High Court for an order to give them access to a medical doctor. 15 brutalised members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, including the top leadership were escorted in handcuffs from Matapi Police Station to Parirenyatwa Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Matchaba Hove said he rushed to the hospital after he received several calls from concerned relatives of the victims. He confirmed that even though all 15 showed signs of serious injuries and had difficulty walking they arrived in handcuffs. The doctor said what was even more concerning was the fact that they were whisked back to Harare Central early Friday morning despite their injuries.

The victims, including ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo and Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe told the medical team that when they were arrested on Wednesday, “they were taken two at a time into a cell and beaten by five policemen in uniform, who beat them for at least an hour if not more.” When tired the police officers are said to have taken rests or taken turns to torture the labour officials.

The arrests happened in Harare on Wednesday as people gathered for a mass demonstration against low salaries, high taxes and workers' lack of access to anti-retroviral HIV/AIDS drugs.Describing the injuries Dr Matchaba Hove said; “Chibhebhe himself had obvious lacerations on the top of his head and his shirt was full of blood. His hands were obviously swollen and the left hand – it was very clear that he had an obvious fracture. They all had severe bruises to the limbs, backs, buttocks and they said to us they had been thoroughly beaten the very day they had been picked.” He said Lovemore Matombo’s hands and his back are swollen. Lucia Matibenga, the ZCTU First Vice President, was bleeding from the ears. Matchaba Hove named some of the others injured; Moses Ngondo and Rwopedza Chigwagwa had fractures of the forearm, Tererai Todini a broken finger and Nqobizita Khumalo a fractured leg.

Despite the serious condition of the activists the police took them back in custody. The doctor said; “I left hospital around half past three in the morning and we had been assured that they would be kept overnight until they seen by a specialist. I am advised though that early this morning (Friday) after 6am , all of them, except Mr Chibhebhe who was admitted, were taken back to Central.” He said the police insisted on taking them back to Harare Central Police Station where their case was processed for court.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights issued a statement saying they unreservedly condemn the assault and torture and prolonged detention of the activists. The doctors also condemned the initial refusal by the police to release the injured from Matapi Police Station to a medical facility.