Assault of Activists by police at Parirenyatwa Hospital

The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has condemned the violent attack on Human Rights Activist, Lynda Masarira, who was assaulted by Zimbabwe Republic Police on the 25th of February at Parirenyatwa Hospital.

ZPP said Masarira and other protesters were demonstrating peacefully sitting on the lawns at Parirenyatwa Hospital expressing their displeasure with the ongoing birthday celebrations by President Robert Mugabe and his party while the situation at public health institutions deteriorates.

"The police arrived in a T35 vehicle and immediately attacked the protesting citizens. Five police officers attacked Lynda and assaulted her using baton sticks and clenched fists all over her body. They also arrested Lynda and five other citizens including her 17year old son before detaining them at Harare Central police station, only to release them at around 8pm on $10 admission of guilt fine for criminal nuisance unjustified by the constitution," said ZPP.

"Masarira is admitted at a private hospital badly injured. Her thighs, back and legs were swollen. The Zimbabwean constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate or petition. The police are expected to defend these freedoms and not to trample on them. It is the duty of the state to ensure that the police do not infringe on the rights of citizens and the ZPP calls on the Human Rights Commission and the police to investigate the officers who were involved in this brutal attack which serves nothing but to blemish the already questionable human rights record of the government."

ZPP is a Non Governmental Organization that was founded in 2000 by a group of faith based and human rights NGOs working and interested in human rights and peace-building initiatives.

ZPP has become a vehicle for civic interventions in times of political crises. In particular, ZPP seeks to monitor and document incidents of human rights violations and breaches of peace.