Police Brutality Victims Demand Justice After Alleged Tribal Attack

POLICING practices in Nkayi have come under scrutiny following a shocking incident in which Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers allegedly flogged more than 10 villagers and forced them to sing unfamiliar liberation songs during a violent crackdown.

The incident, which occurred on July 14 this year, involved a group of officers from Manoti Police Station, who allegedly assaulted inhabitants of Tshayane village in Ward 6, Nkayi, Matabeleland North province.

In a statement, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said the villagers were assaulted by seven ZRP officers under the pretext of investigating theft of diesel belonging to local entrepreneur, Oscar Mawarire.

“The 11 villagers, who reside in Tshayane village in Ward 6 in Nkayi in Matabeleland North province, who include three teenagers, namely Siphiwe Sibanda aged 18 years, Bekithemba Lunga aged 19 years and a 13 year-old minor and Philemon Ncube aged 21 years, Precious Nkiwane aged 25 years, Mxolisi Ncube aged 27 years, Sitshengisiwe Tshuma aged 38 years, Siphiwe Ncube aged 45 years, Douglas Lunga aged 46 years, Rueben Ncube aged 52 years & Chiedza Takaendesa aged 55 years, were left nursing some injuries after they were severely assaulted by seven ZRP officers from Manoti Police Station in Gokwe in Midlands province, who went on a rampage on 14 July.

“In a letter of complaint written to the Officer In Charge of Manoti Police Station by the Nkayi villagers’ lawyers Jabulani Mhlanga and Prisca Dube of ZLHR, the villagers protested against the conduct of the police officers for conducting a violent operation across three homesteads belonging to the Sibanda, Ncube and Lunga families, under the pretext of investigating a case of alleged theft of diesel belonging to Oscar Mawarire, local entrepreneur,” said ZLHR.

Lawyers detailed the brutal treatment the villagers endured, on account of ZRP officers, who also didn’t produce search warrants.

“Mhlanga and Dube stated that the ZRP officers, who were armed with a rifle, truncheons and whips, unlawfully assaulted the villagers including a minor, using excessive force and without just cause.

“In addition, Mhlanga and Dube stated that the villagers were coerced into singing some liberation songs in Shona language and were further assaulted for allegedly failing to sing the songs correctly.

“The ZRP officers, Mhlanga and Dube said, rummaged through the villagers’ homesteads even though they did not have search warrants authorising their actions and proceeded to seize various tools from the homesteads, alleging that they were weapons that were used by the villagers in committing some criminal activities,” reads the statement.

Despite Mawarire’s clarification that the villagers were not involved in the alleged theft, the officers proceeded to arrest seven individuals, transporting them to a police post without allowing them to wear proper clothing or informing them of their rights.

“The human rights lawyers said although Mawarire, who is the complainant in the matter, informed the ZRP officers that the villagers were not the people whom he suspected of stealing his diesel, the law enforcement agents insisted on arresting the villagers and subsequently, seven of them were apprehended and taken to a police post located at Kana Mission.

“The villagers, Mhlanga and Dube said, were not given an opportunity to wear their shoes or warm clothing and neither were they informed of their rights at the time of being apprehended.

“The ZRP officers reportedly threatened to make an example of the villagers in order to deter “Ndebele thieves” from crossing into “Shona territory” and were once again subjected to further physical abuse and forced to sing more liberation songs.

“At the police base, the villagers were made to sleep on concrete floors, without the provision of blankets and with no ablution facilities, with men being handcuffed to each other,” further reads the statement.

The villagers were released the following day after being ordered to pay a fine of $30 each, with no receipts provided to acknowledge the payment.

“The villagers were all released on 15 July after being ordered to pay US$30 each per person by a police officer, who only identified himself as Dube but were not issued with any receipts acknowledging payment of what was supposed to be an admission of guilt fine and were also not furnished with some request for medical report forms in order for them to seek medical attention at government-run medical facilities.”

The villagers reportedly only received medical treatment for their injuries at a private medical facility and afterwards engaged Mhlanga and Dube, who on 1 August wrote a letter of complaint to the Officer in Charge of Manoti Police Station demanding that the police agency conducts an investigation into the ill-treatment and assault.

*NewZW*