Wednesday 28 February 2007
By Reuben Kachisi
HARARE - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party on Tuesday appealed to the High Court to order imprisonment of the country's Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri for 30 days for contempt of court.
In an urgent court application, the MDC said Chihuri and four other senior officers were in contempt of court after ordering the police to disrupt a rally of the opposition party in Harare's low-income suburb of Highfield.
The rally had been sanctioned by the High Court but could not take place after armed police sealed off the venue and later fought running battles with MDC supporters who had turned up for the meeting.
"We hereby seek that the respondents be found in contempt of court and that they be imprisoned for a period of 30 days," the MDC said in the application that had not been set down for hearing by late Tuesday.
Chihuri, Chief Superintendent Thomsen Jangara and other senior police officers identified only as Inspector Manyere, Assistant Inspector Chingururu and Assistant Inspector Moyo are cited as respondents in the application, the first to seek imprisonment of the country's police chief. Failure to punish the police chief and his subordinates would undermine the esteem of the High Court itself in the eyes of the public, the opposition party said.
"The esteem of the administration of justice in the eyes of the public will be shaken and therefore suffer irreparable harm if the honourable court does not react swiftly and decisively to the naked contempt of court," the MDC said.
It was not clear whether the Attorney General's office that represents government departments including the police had filed opposing papers by close of business on Tuesday.
The MDC had wanted to use the Highfield rally to launch its campaign for a presidential election that should take place next year but remains in great doubt after President Robert Mugabe said he wanted it pushed to 2010 so it could coincide with elections for Parliament.
The opposition party also urged the court to bar the police from banning future rallies of the party to launch its presidential election campaign, which it said it planned to launch any day before March 17, 2007.
Last week, police imposed a ban on political rallies and protests in Harare, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo ostensibly to allow tension to calm down in the three main cities.
But former Harare mayor and MDC organising secretary Elias Mudzuri said in an affidavit to court that the ban on rallies would derail the opposition party's political programmes.
"Rallies are virtually the only direct mass media at the applicant's disposal of communicating its political messages and advancing its programmes," Mudzuri said.
Mugabe's government has in recent weeks stepped up a crackdown against the opposition, arresting some of its leaders and banning political activity in volatile city suburbs as a harsh economic crisis continues driving political tensions to dangerous levels.
The proposals by Mugabe to extend his term by another two years without going through an election have helped stoke up tensions in the country with the political opposition and civic society groups threatening to roll out mass protests to block the plan.
A large section within Mugabe's own ruling ZANU PF party is also opposed to extending his tenure.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Protesters await Mugabe ahead of Namibia trip
Reuters
Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:30 PM GMT
By Desiwaar Heita
WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Rights activists in Namibia promised on Tuesday to stage street protests against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on his first foreign trip since his government imposed a temporary ban on opposition rallies.
Mugabe, facing growing unrest at home over policies that critics say have ruined Zimbabwe's economy, is due to arrive in the Namibian capital Windhoek on Tuesday afternoon for a four-day state visit.
The veteran Zimbabwean leader, who turned 83 last week, will hold talks with Namibian President Hfikepunye Pohamba, visit a diamond company and speak to business leaders during the trip.
The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), a Namibian group, said it planned to protest outside Zimbabwe's embassy in Windhoek on Wednesday to express "outrage about the political, human rights and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabweans living in Namibia are expected to join the protest.
Last week Zimbabwe announced a three-month ban on political rallies and protests in a number of volatile townships in Harare after clashes there between police and opposition supporters.
Anti-Mugabe groups have described the move as effectively a "state of emergency" designed to stifle the opposition.
Zimbabwe's new ambassador to Namibia urged Namibians not to believe reports that his southern African nation was sinking into a deeper economic crisis.
"People should not listen to such propaganda that the country is going down, and that the economy is sinking. It is all propaganda. Zimbabwe is doing well," Ambassador Chipo Zindoga told Namibian state television.
Zimbabwe is struggling with soaring inflation, which at 1,600 percent is the highest in the world, chronic shortages of foreign currency, food and fuel and unemployment of 80 percent.
The International Monetary Fund last week maintained its suspension of financial and technical aid to Zimbabwe, saying the government had failed to clear its arrears and address the worsening economic and social crisis.
Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:30 PM GMT
By Desiwaar Heita
WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Rights activists in Namibia promised on Tuesday to stage street protests against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on his first foreign trip since his government imposed a temporary ban on opposition rallies.
Mugabe, facing growing unrest at home over policies that critics say have ruined Zimbabwe's economy, is due to arrive in the Namibian capital Windhoek on Tuesday afternoon for a four-day state visit.
The veteran Zimbabwean leader, who turned 83 last week, will hold talks with Namibian President Hfikepunye Pohamba, visit a diamond company and speak to business leaders during the trip.
The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), a Namibian group, said it planned to protest outside Zimbabwe's embassy in Windhoek on Wednesday to express "outrage about the political, human rights and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabweans living in Namibia are expected to join the protest.
Last week Zimbabwe announced a three-month ban on political rallies and protests in a number of volatile townships in Harare after clashes there between police and opposition supporters.
Anti-Mugabe groups have described the move as effectively a "state of emergency" designed to stifle the opposition.
Zimbabwe's new ambassador to Namibia urged Namibians not to believe reports that his southern African nation was sinking into a deeper economic crisis.
"People should not listen to such propaganda that the country is going down, and that the economy is sinking. It is all propaganda. Zimbabwe is doing well," Ambassador Chipo Zindoga told Namibian state television.
Zimbabwe is struggling with soaring inflation, which at 1,600 percent is the highest in the world, chronic shortages of foreign currency, food and fuel and unemployment of 80 percent.
The International Monetary Fund last week maintained its suspension of financial and technical aid to Zimbabwe, saying the government had failed to clear its arrears and address the worsening economic and social crisis.
Monday, February 26, 2007
MDC activist tortured for 3 days by police in Epworth
An opposition supporter who was taken from his home by police last week is reported to be recovering from injuries sustained during 3 days of torture at Epworth police station. After first denying they had him in custody, police finally produced Norbert Gudorinorima on Saturday and released him to be attended to by a doctor six days after his original arrest. The story of exactly what happened to Gudorinorima is still unfolding as he talks to his lawyers. Alex Muchadehama from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said the charges against Gudorinorima have been vague and convoluted.
He was first accused of theft, then this was changed to assault and later to defeating the course of justice. And in the absence of a clear case, the police assaulted him without any charges. Muchadehama said the man is not able to walk, sit or lie down without feeling pain. He is being attended to by a private doctor at Dandaro and is reported to be in a serious condition.
Muchadehama said Gudorinorima was first grabbed by police at a demonstration by the Tsvangirai MDC that had started spontaneously in the Harare South area on Sunday, February 18th. He was taken to Epworth police station where an unnamed complainant said he had been attacked by Gudorinorima and other MDC supporters. Due to a lack of evidence he was released the same day. But as Sunday turned into early Monday morning, the police came for him at his home and brought him back to Epworth police station. According to Muchadehama, the police assaulted Gudorinorima brutally for 3 days and 3 nights. No-one was allowed access to him during that period.
Meanwhile his wife, family and lawyers, including Muchadehama, were working frantically to secure his release. Youth from the Tsvangirai MDC who live nearby are also reported to have gone to the police station looking for him. Under enormous pressure, the police finally produced Gudorinorima this past Saturday, exactly 6 days after they took him from his house, and have still not charged him. They told Muchadehama they would proceed after he recovers from his injuries.
Muchadehama said police are doing what they want in this case. He explained that the normal procedures ie: arresting someone when you have probable cause, bringing them to court within the prescribed time and allowing them to appeal - were not even remotely followed here.
He was first accused of theft, then this was changed to assault and later to defeating the course of justice. And in the absence of a clear case, the police assaulted him without any charges. Muchadehama said the man is not able to walk, sit or lie down without feeling pain. He is being attended to by a private doctor at Dandaro and is reported to be in a serious condition.
Muchadehama said Gudorinorima was first grabbed by police at a demonstration by the Tsvangirai MDC that had started spontaneously in the Harare South area on Sunday, February 18th. He was taken to Epworth police station where an unnamed complainant said he had been attacked by Gudorinorima and other MDC supporters. Due to a lack of evidence he was released the same day. But as Sunday turned into early Monday morning, the police came for him at his home and brought him back to Epworth police station. According to Muchadehama, the police assaulted Gudorinorima brutally for 3 days and 3 nights. No-one was allowed access to him during that period.
Meanwhile his wife, family and lawyers, including Muchadehama, were working frantically to secure his release. Youth from the Tsvangirai MDC who live nearby are also reported to have gone to the police station looking for him. Under enormous pressure, the police finally produced Gudorinorima this past Saturday, exactly 6 days after they took him from his house, and have still not charged him. They told Muchadehama they would proceed after he recovers from his injuries.
Muchadehama said police are doing what they want in this case. He explained that the normal procedures ie: arresting someone when you have probable cause, bringing them to court within the prescribed time and allowing them to appeal - were not even remotely followed here.
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