About 380 people injured between January and August due to police brutality

Heal Zimbabwe Trust has reported that a total of approximately 380 people were injured between January and August 2016 with 161 being victims of police brutality and some form of organised violence particularly by ZANU-PF members who abducted and terrorized civil rights activists under the pretext of citizen arrests.

The trust said innocent civilians and peaceful protestors were assaulted and violently displaced in several peaceful protests in Harare, Kwekwe, Bulawayo, Beitbridge and many other smaller towns.

"On the 30th of August 2016, the police arrested a Journalist, Chrispen Ndlovu and other six activists including Mthokozisi Ncube, Lenny Kuzwarira, Hampton Maphosa, Plaxedes Denge, Lwandlelubanzi Ndebele and Alfred Dzirutwe in Bulawayo, for peacefully demonstrating against unemployment," said the trust.

"All the arrested persons were badly beaten. The individuals were merely exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate and petition peacefully but the law enforcement agencies decided to stop them using violence and coercive force."

Heal Zimbabwe Trust said between the 24th and 26th of August, the police used tear canisters, water cannons and baton sticks to disperse peaceful protestors before they faced a mass backlash.

"On the 24th of August, the MDC-T youths launched a peaceful march under #MyZimbabwe campaign which later turned violent when the police fired tear canisters on them. When the protestors started retaliating, the police called for force reinforcement leading to excessive use of violence against the marchers," said the trust.

"The police randomly beat anyone in their view, unnecessarily throwing tear canisters among people and spraying pepper water to street walkers. Members of the public were caught up in the violence and they ended up collaborating with the protestors against the police."

The trust said on the 26th of August, the police disrupted a peaceful march organised by a coalition of opposition parties (under the National Electoral Reform Agenda) who intended to submit a petition to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

"Again, innocent citizens were indiscriminately beaten, sprayed with pepper water and choked with tear gasses. One example of the victims is Lillian Chinyerere Shumba, a 62 year old woman who was brutally assaulted by the police outside the Harare Magistrates Court. The woman was minding her own business and the police caught up with her as they randomly bit anyone in the vicinity. Lillian suffered shoulder injuries and ear damages from the brute force used against her by the law enforcement agencies," said the trust.

"On the 24th of August, retaliating members of the public also violently burnt two vehicles belonging to the Zimbabwe Republic police and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC). Citizens started pelting stones to police officers while some looted shops, including the Choppies Supermarket belonging to Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko. On the 26th of the same month a people's market and properties were burnt in Harare."

The trust said following the protests, the police went on to arrest a total of 104 citizens caught up in the protests. Some of the arrested persons were abducted during the night.

"For example, Kerina Gweshe Dewah was abducted at the middle of the night at her home in Glen View. She was only found at Harare Central Police Station the following morning. It is notable that some abductions were carried out by ZANU-PF youths who would torture the victims before surrendering them to the police.2 One such case is of Gift Ostallos Siziba, a former student leader who was abducted by ZANU-PF youth and thoroughly beaten at ZANU-PF headquarters before being surrendered to the police."