Drama in court as tortured MDC activist suffers cardiac arrest

By Tichaona Sibanda
16 April 2007

An MDC activist who was badly tortured in police custody last week suffered a cardiac arrest during a court hearing and had to be resuscitated by paramedics inside the court, Newsreel learnt on Monday.

The incident happened last week in Harare at the magistrates’ court when the activist suddenly lost consciousness and stopped breathing. Kerry Kay, the MDC deputy secretary for Health, said the unidentified activist was eventually rushed to hospital for emergency medical treatment. Following his brush with death he was released on free bail and is back home.

But there are still worries for other senior MDC officials like Ian Makone, who are still being denied specialist treatment for the serious injuries inflicted on them during two days of non-stop torture by security agents.

Kay said there is growing concern that 25 activists still in police custody are being denied medical care amid reports that most of them can hardly sit up straight because of suspected internal injuries. Kay added that Phillip Katsande, who was seriously wounded last week Saturday when police shot him in his house, had undergone a successful operation to remove a bullet lodged in his diaphragm.

‘Katsande is still under police guard and soon after his operation he was visited by officers from the law and order who told him he was still under investigation for sabotage. But he hasn’t been charged with anything yet,’ Kay said.

On Sunday the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human rights
said hundreds of Zimbabweans have been injured, maimed or traumatized in a surge of political violence in the past month by security authorities. The doctors group issued an international petition Sunday calling for an end to state orchestrated violence and torture.

Tension however continues to simmer as the regime escalates its purge of opposition figures. An MDC councillor in Chitungwiza identified as Moses Tsikwa was abducted from his home on Sunday night and is believed to
be held at Harare central police station. The opposition insists at least 600 of its officials and supporters have been arrested. The majority of them have been badly beaten in custody. Two activists are now known to have died from gunshot injuries. This includes Gift Tandare who was shot and killed during the 11th March prayer meeting disturbances in Highfield.