Zimbabwe prisoners forced to eat 'own excreta'

 Two of the nine prisoners accused of plotting a jailbreak at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison two months ago have claimed they were tortured and forced to eat their own excreta by prison officials.

Taurai Dodzo and Thomas Chacha made the claims at the Harare Magistrates' Court on Wednesday while applying for referral of their case to the Constitutional Court.

"The two are being represented by lawyer David Hofisi. The accused persons' fundamental right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and right to human dignity as enshrined in Sections 53 and 51 of the Constitution were contravened," Hofisi said.

The contravention took the form of wanton assaults and subjection to conditions of incarceration meant to induce severe pain, suffering and discomfort at the hands of State actors in the form of prison officials and other officers in civilian clothing.

Hofisi said Dodzo was assaulted for two days by prison officers until he defecated.