Lawyer assaulted by senior police official while assisting WOZA

By Tererai Karimakwenda
16 October 2007

The lawyer representing the 75 activists from Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise who were arrested in Harare on Monday has reported that he was assaulted by a senior police official while attending to his clients.

Lawyer Tafadzwa Mugabe said he was patiently waiting inside the station for an Inspector Shumba, who was processing arrest sheets for WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams and other members who had been arrested. A Superintendant Tendere arrived with some riot police officers and began interrogating Tafadzwa about his presence at the Station. The Police Superintendant’s words soon turned to physical pushing and shoving. Tafadzwa said Tendere then hit him on the jaw with a left jab and ordered the riot police to throw him off the premises.

Fortunately Williams and the WOZA members were released without charge Monday evening. The group had staged a peaceful demonstration earlier to protest police brutality against its members. They marched up First Street to the parliament building’s steps where they intended to handover a report on political violence against their activists. It was here that they were arrested, after sitting down instead of dispersing when police arrived.

The defiant lawyer returned to Harare Central on Tuesday and filed charges against the Superintendant who assaulted him. Tafadzwa said he was able to get into the police station because the officers at the entrance were not the ones that were ordered to block his entry. He also said as much as the environment is intimidating, he will continue to do his work as a lawyer.