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.