News / Local
Bulawayo women sue Chihuri for torture
09 Feb 2012 at 12:47hrs | Views
Suspected Bulawayo policemen who detained and severely tortured two city women for several days before releasing them without a charge are under investigation.
Police usually subject suspects to long hours of torture to extract a confession.
Agnes Muponda and Mankazanyana Moyo claim to have fallen prey to police brutality.
Muponda and Moyo, through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have since indicated that they are suing Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuri for unlawful detention and torture by his officers.
The pair was detained on two occasions at Pumula police station in October 2011 and January this year by CID officers at Cabs Building respectively.
The implicated policemen are by Constables Shoko and a Mudzingwa.
In a letter to the ZLHR dated 17 January, Chief Superintendent Matange , Officer Commanding Nkulumane District said a docket had been opened against the officers who are now under investigation for allegedly torturing the two women.
"Please be advised that of behalf of the Commissioner General of Police, we are treating the above matter just as good as other reports of assault by citizens or foreigners in Zimbabwe.
"As of now, an assault docket under Pumula CR 34/01/12 has already been opened and will soon be delivered to Court for Justice to prevail. This shows that we do not condone this behavior even if perpetrated by our members," Superintendent Matange wrote in the letter.
He added,"Also please not that we are going to investigate this matter to the end."
Lizwe Jamela from the ZLHR said the two women as the result of the torture have suffered near permanent injuries due to severe torture.
Court paper says the women were "severely assaulted under her feet" and are struggling to wear shoes.
Jamela in another letter dated 20 January said Muponda "was assaulted at CABS Building by CID officers with a baton stick all over her body, head and face and then detained at your station with no charges preferred against her.
"Medical records show the level of distress suffered and the likelihood of permanent disability with her life in danger due to the assault."
Police usually subject suspects to long hours of torture to extract a confession.
Agnes Muponda and Mankazanyana Moyo claim to have fallen prey to police brutality.
Muponda and Moyo, through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have since indicated that they are suing Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuri for unlawful detention and torture by his officers.
The pair was detained on two occasions at Pumula police station in October 2011 and January this year by CID officers at Cabs Building respectively.
The implicated policemen are by Constables Shoko and a Mudzingwa.
In a letter to the ZLHR dated 17 January, Chief Superintendent Matange , Officer Commanding Nkulumane District said a docket had been opened against the officers who are now under investigation for allegedly torturing the two women.
"As of now, an assault docket under Pumula CR 34/01/12 has already been opened and will soon be delivered to Court for Justice to prevail. This shows that we do not condone this behavior even if perpetrated by our members," Superintendent Matange wrote in the letter.
He added,"Also please not that we are going to investigate this matter to the end."
Lizwe Jamela from the ZLHR said the two women as the result of the torture have suffered near permanent injuries due to severe torture.
Court paper says the women were "severely assaulted under her feet" and are struggling to wear shoes.
Jamela in another letter dated 20 January said Muponda "was assaulted at CABS Building by CID officers with a baton stick all over her body, head and face and then detained at your station with no charges preferred against her.
"Medical records show the level of distress suffered and the likelihood of permanent disability with her life in danger due to the assault."
Source - Byo24News
