“We Were Just Praying”: 22 NDWG Members Released After Hours Of Police Profiling and Detention In Bulawayo

By Desire Tshuma

BULAWAYO — Twenty-two members of the National Democratic Working Group, comprising 17 women and five men, have been released after being arrested during a prayer meeting for a sick female member in Emakhandeni.

The group had gathered at the home of their sick colleague, Ntokozo Dube, to pray for her recovery when police arrived and arrested them. Dube is reportedly recovering after giving birth to a premature baby about a month ago.

The 22 were initially taken to Entumbane Police Station before being transferred to the CID Law and Order section at Bulawayo Central Police Station, where they were profiled and subsequently released. They did not spend the night in police custody.

NDWG National Spokesperson Ms Moyo said the gathering was purely religious and had no political agenda, accusing the police of infringing on the members’ right to freedom of religion and prayer.

“We were having a prayer meeting for one of our sick female members. It was not a political gathering. We were simply exercising our right to religion and praying for her recovery,” Ms Moyo said.

She said the members were concerned by the police intervention, arguing that their gathering was intended solely to offer spiritual support to their colleague.

The arrest also raised concern among relatives and fellow NDWG members, particularly over Dube’s condition following the birth of her premature baby.

“Ntokozo just had a premature baby a month ago. She is still weak and breastfeeding. We were only praying for her and for the sick; we did not break any law,” one of the women said.

A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the group was eventually released after being profiled at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

“They were taken to Entumbane first and later transferred to CID Law and Order at Bulawayo Central, where they were profiled. They were then released,” the family member said.

A lawyer representing some of the detainees said the group had a constitutional right to freedom of religion and assembly.

“Our clients have a constitutional right to freedom of religion and assembly. They were engaged in prayer. We expected the police to either charge them or release them without delay,” the lawyer said.

No formal charges were communicated to the detainees before their release.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police had not issued a statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrests by the time of publication.

Efforts to get a comment from Bulawayo Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele were fruitless as her mobile phone went unanswered.