15 March 2010

Edition 36

Govt has failed on key reforms-Tsvangirai HARARE-Prime Minister Morgan crisis by ending politically motivated arrests, Tsvangirai has admitted that the transitional prosecutions, seizures of white-owned farms, coalition government has failed to institute media censorship as well as drafting a new significant democratic reforms more than a constitution and holding new elections under year after its establishment. international supervision and monitoring.

Tsvangirai formed a transitional unity But a year after its establishment, Tsvangirai government with President conceded that implementation of democratic after signing an Interparty Political reforms has been sluggish. Agreement (IPA) which was expected to usher in a new phase in his decade-long “Indeed, as a government, we have not yet made struggle against Mugabe’s rule. the types of progress or democratic reforms which were the very reason for entering into The decision to establish the inclusive this new administration,” Tsvangirai disclosed government came after many influential in a keynote address at the launch of a Crisis leaders in southern Africa pushed for a in Coalition (CZC) report entitled power-sharing arrangement in response to “Cries from Goromonzi: Inside Zimbabwe’s an election their own monitors concluded Torture Chambers”. was neither free nor fair. Tsvangirai’s disclosure is in tandem with a recent The coalition government committed brutal assessment carried out by the Civil Society itself to resolving a decade-long political Monitoring Mechanism (CISOMM), To Page 4 Prime Minister

TortureHARARE-Victims of torture at the hands of State Their testimonies revealedvictims that where the “When we arrived at the base, the group demandedtell He said the previous regimeall had failed in its agents and members of the ZANU PF regime previous government was not a direct perpetrator, that I produce my Movement for Democratic attempts to crush voices of dissent but a lot more have revealed the pervasive torture they allegedly it was an alleged accomplice in the violation of Change (MDC) regalia and membership card. still needed to be done. underwent, including beatings on the soles of human rights using open violence, chemicals to Upon failure to produce what they wanted, I was their feet, arbitrary assaults and mock drowning. drug and poison victims, and other egregious told to remove my shoes and had my feet placed “The fact that we are here today is evidence that forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. upon four bricks before receiving beatings on the they failed to silence us and although we have not In a report titled: “Cries from Goromonzi; Inside soles of my feet,” said Mupfawa. yet reached our true democratic destination, we Zimbabwe’s Torture Chambers” released by Rosy Mupfawa, one of the victims, told how will never stop marching towards the Zimbabwe the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) last 19 people broke into the house she was sharing Her assailants claimed to have been sent by named that the people demand and deserve,” he said at Thursday, 23 people who allegedly experienced with her aged parents and four children and the launch of the report. these traumatic experiences describe how the force-marched her for about one hour towards a ZANU PF members who had allegedly received instructions to instigate violence against MDC culture of torture with impunity remains pervasive Musamhi base (Mutoko) which was manned by The release of the report coincides with the third in Zimbabwe. war veterans. members in the area. She said her assailants tore anniversary of the March 11, 2007 arrests, assaults off her clothes, including her underwear, before and torture of civil society actors and opposition touching her private parts. political party leaders and supporters on their way to Highfield for a Prayer Meeting under the Save “At that moment, owing to continued beatings, Zimbabwe Campaign initiative. four teeth fell out while both my arms were broken. One of the men started beating me again “It is fitting that this launch is held on with planks and just when I thought the worst was March 11, the day when many of us gathered here over, he stuck a thick tree stump into my vagina were together in Highfield and witnessed and tearing off part of my ‘vaginal bean’ (clitoris),” experienced the brutality of the regime’s attempts said Mupfawa. to suppress dissent,” said Tsvangirai.

While she suffered at the hands of her tormentors, The CZC report examines the pervasive use of some ZANU PF supporters helped themselves alleged torture and imprisonment of citizens in to her three goats, 50kgs of maize meal, sewing secret detention camps in Zimbabwe to extract machine, 25 litres of cooking oil, five litres of information, stifle public dissent and determine political process and election outcomes. It seeks paraffin, school uniforms and blankets. to expose alleged torture camps, the prevalence of the use of torture and acts as a catalyst for security The police refused to record her report, saying the sector reforms in Zimbabwe. case was “political”, and was being dealt with by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). One example of these alleged detention camps is revealed as a prison complex housed at Goromonzi This is just one of the many harrowing testimonies Police Camp situated 40km outside Harare in by victims of torture, who Prime Minister Mashonaland East - a province notorious for its Morgan Tsvangirai saluted for their “bravery gross human rights abuses. During the colonial and who shared their testimonies so that they era, the prison complex was used by the Ian Smith can help to light our path towards truth, justice, regime as a torture base for freedom fighters and and reconciliation”. other supporters of the liberation struggle. Rutendo Munengami courageously narrates her ordeal 15 March 2010

Significant overhaul required for free polls

HARARE-The Zimbabwe Electoral Support Reform of harsh media and security laws such of human rights violations have been reported Network (ZESN) has said that an election can as the Access to Information and Protection of during the month under review. only go ahead next year after a ‘significant’ Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security overhaul of the current electoral system and Act were key in leveling the playing field for “ZESN learnt of the arrests of the staff of its processes. contestants. Students, labour and other civil member organization, CIVNET, in Bindura. society actors continue to be arrested, harassed The ZimRights Director and some of its board In its latest Ballot Update, ZESN said recent and intimidated under these laws, ZESN noted. members and staff have also been threatened statements by President Robert Mugabe that the The constitution-making process is also behind via text and e-mail messages. Meanwhile the country should be ready for elections next year schedule by seven months. Secretary General of GAPWUZ is currently in were ill-timed because the current environment hiding after having been summoned before the would only result in disputed polls. ZESN noted that civil society was still operating Joint Operations Command regarding her role in a restrictive environment, making its job of in the making of a documentary surrounding The Ballot Update is a monthly barometer on sensitising the public on political, social and the land reform programme,” reads part of the the transitional administration’s ability to meet economic issues difficult. This has been worsened Ballot Update. benchmarks it set for itself under the Inter-Party by the re-emergence of security forces in ZESN director - Rindai Chipfunde-Vava Political Agreement (IPA) that formed the basis civilian matters. This curtailment of civil society operating space of the coalition government. Human Rights Commission, Zimbabwe Media was particularly worrying given the critical Commission and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption “The space for civil society to operate has moment of the constitutional outreach process Electoral reforms demanded by ZESN include Commission - as provided for in the IPA. ZESN been significantly curtailed within the past 2 which would require broader participation by functional constitutional commissions - expressed concern at the delays in setting up months. Despite the optimism resulting from the citizens if the new constitution was to gain Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe these commissions. the Government of National Unity, a number legitimacy, noted ZESN. appeals ruling HARARE-In a further attempt to put an end to any of the Members in the House did not cast Zvoma argued the alleged chaos was merely a his streak of bad fortune, former Information their votes in secret or that the Members who result of the increased membership of the House Minister, Jonathan Moyo, has renewed his bid to did display their votes did so under any threat or from 150 to 210 MPs. oust , the Speaker of Parliament, duress,” said Patel. after the High Court threw out his 2008 challenge The Speaker became the first person from to have the Speaker’s election set aside. The once high-flying Moyo sat in court and was a outside Zanu PF to have landed the post in The Tsholotsho North MP filed a Notice of pale shadow of the former exuberant, Information 2008 after the ailing Zanu PF had surrendered Appeal in the Supreme Court last Wednesday, Minister of the early 20th century as Justice Patel’s its majority in Parliament for the first time in a day after Justice Bharat Patel had dismissed delivered his ruling. Zimbabwe’s history. his application. Legislators who supported Jonathan The Tsholotsho North MP is notorious for “The learned Judge (Justice Patel) erred in finding Moyo’s application were Moses Mzila Ndlovu, crafting the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) that a proper election of the Speaker of Parliament Patrick Dube and Siyabonga Ncube. Jonathan which he went on to use to persecute and was conducted in terms of the constitution,” Moyo Moyo won Tsholotsho as an independent close media organisations deemed hostile to argued in his Notice of Appeal, made through his candidate but is now officially back in ZANU PF Jonathan Moyo: plastic smiles Zimbabwe. At least four newspapers were lawyer Terrence Hussein. “The learned judge as a central committee member. closed down during Moyo’s reign as Information erred in conceding the First Respondent’s Austin Zvoma. Zvoma was accused in Jonathan Minister which turned out to be the darkest failure to implicate and enforce his own The Speaker, who is the MDC national chairman, Moyo’s application of failing to safeguard the period in the history of the media fraternity procedures for the election. The judge was sued jointly with Clerk of Parliament, Parliamentary Standing Orders. in Zimbabwe. erred in finding that the participants’ exposure of their completed ballot papers was not a violation of the secret ballot.

“He also erred in finding that a secret ballot took place. Wherefore appellant will pray that the appeal be allowed on any one or more or all of the grounds of the appeal and that the decision of learned Judge Patel can be set aside,” argued Parly seeks public views on Moyo in his appeal.

Patel had on Tuesday upheld the Speaker’s election, dismissing Jonathan Moyo’s application Indigenisation Regulations with costs.

Jonathan Moyo, with support from MPs from HARARE - Parliament’s Portfolio Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party, the Deputy Prime Minister ’s Committee on Budget, Finance, Economic Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), party, had sought to convince the High Court Planning and Investment Promotion says the regulations were published without that the displaying of ballot papers by about six will today hold a public hearing on the consultation, and fears they will be used to members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s controversial Indigenisation and Economic expropriate businesses in the same arbitrary and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Empowerment (General) Regulations. party violated principles of the conduct of a lawless manner in which farms were violently secret ballot. Indigenisation Minister, Saviour grabbed by ZANU PF leaders and allies. Kasukuwere, published the regulations Justice Patel, however, said he “was unable to last month and since then there has been Under the law, foreign-owned firms have 45 days find any basis for setting aside the election of confusion on their legality, effect and from March 1 to show how they will achieve the Speaker”. proposed implementation. majority black shareholding within five years.

Those who refuse to provide this information “It follows from the foregoing that the applicants The Committee wants to hear views from have failed to establish any justification, either ordinary Zimbabweans on the controversial or to cede majority shareholding to indigenous as regards the general conduct of the impugned regulations, which are meant to enforce the Zimbabweans could face jail. election or with respect to the secrecy of the votes Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment cast or otherwise, for setting aside or nullifying Act, which President Mugabe signed into Members of the public will have a chance to nd the election of the 2 Respondent (Lovemore law in March 2008. present their views to the Budget, Finance, Moyo) as Speaker of the House of Assembly,” Economic Planning and Investment Promotion said Patel. The law, which forces foreign-owned Committee through oral and written submissions. companies to cede 51 percent of their Justice Patel said the MPs who displayed their businesses to locals, has created tensions The Committee, headed by ZANU PF MP and ballot papers did so willingly and voluntarily within the transitional government. Business renowned businessman, Paddy Zhanda, will table and were not coerced to do so. “On the evidence and labour say the law will result in lack of a report in Parliament on the public views for before this Court, there is nothing to show that investment and further job losses. further debate. 15 March 2010 Another long wait for Bennett HARARE-, the Deputy Agriculture But Mtetwa refuted the claims, saying none Justice Bhunu said he would make a ruling on 31 Minister-designate, will endure another of the witnesses had linked Bennett to either March as he needed at least two weeks to consider stressful three-week wait while High Court Hitschmann, or the crime. “I made the application the submissions made by Mtetwa and Tomana. Judge, Chinembiri Bhunu, decides on the MDC for discharge knowing that they have not politician’s application for discharge. established a genuine case against Bennett,” So far the State case has stuttered along, she said. particularly from the time Hitschmann refused to Bennett made the application through his lawyer, testify against Bennett. The situation was made Mrs. Beatrice Mtetwa, last week at the close of the The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights worse after Justice Bhunu threw out videos and State’s case. The State, led by Attorney General member added: “The so-called key witness was handwritten statements in which Hitschmann was (AG) Johannes Tomana, opposed the application. never key at all. He never opened any door. alleged to have incriminated Bennett. The judge So it’s impossible to say there was evidence when said the evidence had been obtained under torture the person who was said to be key did not come In making the application, Mtetwa argued that and could not be used in court. with any keys at all.” the State had failed to link the MDC treasurer- general to the alleged offence of committing acts Tomana had argued that Bennett’s application The former commercial farmer, who lost of insurgency, banditry, sabotage or terrorism. for discharge lacked merit on the basis that the his farm in Chimanimani in the Eastern She said the State’s key witness - the Mutare- totality of the State’s evidence established a prima Highlands during the height of the chaotic based arms dealer Michael Peter Hitschmann - facie case against him. “I would want to say the land invasions, has maintained from the whom Justice Bhunu had declared hostile during application ill founded,” he added. onset that he has no link with Hitschmann. the course of the trial, had not linked Bennett to the alleged crime. He argued that the State had placed enough The MDC says the charges are politically- evidence before the court to put Bennett - motivated and meant to keep him out of the Tomana told the court that Bennett had a case to who faces the death sentence if convicted transitional government its leader Prime Minister An artist impression of Roy Bennett in court answer and had “a lot to explain”. In long-winded Pic courtesy of Tatenda “TC” Chinyuku - on his defence. “We have a done a good Morgan Tsvangirai and President Mugabe formed submissions, Tomana alleged that evidence from job towards establishing a prima facie case. last year. President Mugabe has said he will not three “expert witnesses”, one hostile witness established a prima facie case against the popular We have established a link between Michael Peter swear in Bennett as Deputy Agriculture Minister (Hitschmann) and law enforcement agents had MDC politician. Hitschmann and Bennett,” said Tomana. until he has been cleared of the offence.

Analysis of unilateral assignment of ministerial functions

The President, without any consultation Corporation (Commercialisation) Act; and Constitutional Commission. Listing it under the now under the Minister of Public Service with the Prime Minister, has gazetted Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (Debt Justice and Legal Affairs Ministry indicates that [MDC-T]. the long-awaited legal instruments Assumption) Act. it is the intention that when a Human Rights Acts Assigned to the Office of the stating which Minister is responsible Commission Act is eventually enacted it will The “Office of the President and Cabinet”, in a President and Cabinet for the administration of which Acts be the responsibility of the Minister of Justice surprising move, has been given the Interception Note: It is surprising that several Acts of Parliament. There are 33 statutory of Communications Act [see note below] and Legal Affairs, although there is a stronger have been assigned to the “Office of the instruments in a Gazette Extraordinary late argument for putting it under the Ministry of [Minister of Information Communication President and Cabinet” instead of to a on 4th March. In terms of the Constitution Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs. Technology, [MDC-T], has not Minister, as there is no constitutional [section 31D] it is the President who been assigned any Acts.] Acts Governing Elections provision for Acts to be administered by assigns functions to Ministers, including Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary the Office of the President and Cabinet. the administration of Acts of Parliament Acts Governing Law and Order Affairs, [MDC-T], has not These assignments are legally questionable. [this involves responsibility for the Co-Ministers of Home Affairs, been given the Electoral Act nor the Zimbabwe The Acts are: Emergency Powers Act implementation and enforcement of an Act, [ZANU-PF] and [MDC-T], Electoral Commission Act as would be expected. [previously with Home Affairs]; Zimbabwe the making of regulations under the Act, have the Public Order and Security Act National Security Council Act [a new Act [He has been given the Referendums Act.] and the initiation and preparation of any [POSA]; Police Act; Unlawful Organisations not previously assigned]; Interception Bill to amend or replace the Act.] Act; Protected Places and Areas Act; Official Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Patrick of Communications Act [previously Secrets Act; and Preservation of Constitutional Chinamasa [ZANU-PF], has been given the with Transport and Communications]; Government Act. These were all under the Electoral Act and the Zimbabwe Electoral Presidential Powers Act [previously with Now that there is an inclusive government Ministry of Home Affairs previously. The Commission Act, which doesn’t make sense a Vice-President]; Procurement Act; and a Prime Minister, it would have Ministry of Home Affairs also has the Prevention – it is harking back to the time when his Commissions of Inquiry Act; Honours and been expected that there would have of Corruption Act and Anti-Corruption Ministry was the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Awards Act; Research Act [previously with been consultation and agreement on the Commission Act. Parliamentary Affairs. a Vice-President]. allocation of Ministerial functions. Acts governing Parliamentary Affairs It was one of the issues which delayed the The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Ministers without Acts to Administer ZANU-PF Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, formation of the inclusive government after This is listed under the Minister of Justice and Four Ministers have no Acts to administer: [ZANU-PF], has been given the three parties signed the Global Political Legal Affairs. There is in fact no Act on the Information Communication Technology the Political Parties (Finance) Act, the Private Agreement (GPA). statute books governing this about-to-be-formed [MDC-T]; Regional Integration and Bill Procedure Act and the Public Bodies Private International Cooperation [MDC-M];

Bill Procedure Act. [It would have been more State Enterprises and Parastatals Below are brief notes [not a full analysis] logical for these to come under the Minister of [MDC-T]; Science and Technology on the gazetted Ministerial functions. Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs.] The Development [MDC-T]. There are a few typos and anomalies in the only Act to do with Parliament allocated to the Other Ministerial Functions gazette [e.g. the Cooperative Societies Act Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary A Minister’s responsibilities, of course, has been given to three different Ministries] Affairs is the Privileges, Immunities and Powers go beyond the administration of Acts of so there may be some revisions to these of Parliament Act. Statutory Instruments. Parliament. Ministers have other functions The Constitution within the fields covered by their portfolios Acts Governing Media Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary – the Constitution states that a Minister Affairs, Eric Matinenga [MDC-T], is now exercises general direction and control over Minister of Transport, Communications formally assigned the Constitution, except the Ministry he or she heads. A Minister and Infrastructure Development, Nicholas Chapter XI on Finance [which, as previously, is also answerable to Parliament for what Goche [ZANU-PF], has the Posts and goes to the Minister of Finance]. his or her Ministry does or fails to do. So Telecommunications Act. having responsibility for only one or two Private Voluntary Organisations Act Acts of Parliament, or even none, does Minister of Media, Information and This remains with the Minister of Labour and not mean that a Minister has nothing to Publicity, [ZANU-PF], Social Services [MDC-T] as do the Labour Act do. For example, the Minister of Foreign has the Broadcasting Act; Access to and all the other Acts previously administered by Affairs administers only one Act – but is Information and Protection of Privacy this Ministry, except Acts dealing with the Public responsible for the conduct of the country’s Act [AIPPA]; Zimbabwe Broadcasting Nelson Chamisa: stripped by Mugabe Service and some State pensions which are foreign relations. Source Veritas 15 March 2010

VigilantMUTARE-Ten vigilant Mutare residents the Mutare police station residents after his detention in “The prosecutor withdrew the charges against the freedabout 150 kilometers out of the eastern who had been facing charges of public police cells to ensure that he was not moved to residents after assessing the witness statements border city, to observe the trial of one of violence have been freed after the State unknown holding stations. and the totality of the evidence,” said Blessing his “subjects”. withdrew charges against them. Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Bennett was arrested last February upon his return Rights who represented the ten residents. from self-imposed exile in South Africa where The Chief lamented the loss of social The ten residents were arrested and charged he had been granted political asylum by South Bennett, Tsvangirai’s choice for the deputy benefits that Bennett - popularly known with public violence last February after they African authorities. He was subsequently charged as Pachedu - used to contribute to the with attempt to commit terrorism, banditry agriculture ministerial portfolio, is popular among mounted a vigil outside Mutare Central and sabotage. Zimbabweans especially those from Manicaland. Chimanimani community. police station where Deputy Agriculture Minister-designate, Roy Bennett, had The residents, who were accused of damaging In January, Chief Chadworth Ringisai Chikukwa Bennett, a fluent speaker of the local been detained. property along the city’s Herbert Chitepo attended Bennett’s terrorism trial in Harare in a Manyika dialect, ploughed a share of his rare show of support by a traditional leader for the Street after demonstrating against the former profits into building bridges, roads, schools Chimanimani legislator’s arrest and detention, tormented former legislator. The residents who sympathised with were freed last Tuesday after the State prosecutor and clinics for the community when he used Bennett, the Movement for Democratic withdrew charges against them citing insufficient Chief Chikukwa told The Legal Monitor that to run Charleswood Estate in Chimanimani. Change (MDC) treasurer, camped outside evidence to prosecute. he traveled all the way from Chimanimani, Court orders chains off CHINHOYI-A Chinhoyi Magistrate last week ordered prison guards to stop chaining the legs of three murder suspects following protests from their lawyer.

Emmanuel Chinanzvavana and Fani Tembo, councillors for Banket Town Council, and Givemore Hodzi last week appeared in court for further remand shackled in leg irons.

Chinanzvavana, Tembo and Hodzi are accused of murdering Lancelot Zvirongwe, who was a ZANU PF special interest councillor for Banket. They deny the charge, which they maintain is politically motivated.

The State alleges that the three men kidnapped Zvirongwe between Banket and Chinhoyi and dragged him to an area in Banket where they killed him with an unknown weapon before dumping his body into Kingston Dam.

The State claims that the deceased sent some Emmanuel and Concelia Chinanzvavana: this couple has suffered repeated harassment at the hands of the State. Concelia, once abducted and tortured together with her husband, says she is struggling to mobile text messages to Zimbabwe Broadcasting feed the family in the absence of Emmanuel, who remains in detention Corporation (ZBC) radio presenter, Richmond Pattison Mupfure (an alleged coup plotter), have drugs such as antiretroviral drugs, which the In 2009, an outbreak of pellagra killed 23 inmates Siyakurima, a police Assistant Inspector equated Zimbabwean prisons to a holocaust. Zimbabwean government can barely afford, have at the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Prison, Chidakwa and an unnamed District Administrator resulted in numerous preventable prison deaths. where hardcore prisoners are kept. implicating Chinanzvavana and his co-accused. Many often suffer from malnutrition and other diseases as a result of food shortages and lack of proper health care. Last year, High Court Judge President Rita Zimbabwe has 55 prisons with a holding capacity Chinanzvavana and Tembo are not new to State Makarau likened any prison sentence to a of 17 000. brutality, having been part of a group of political The poor conditions in jails, coupled with death sentence because of the gravely and rights activists who were abducted and prisoners’ lack of access to life prolonging inhumane conditions. tortured two years ago for allegedly plotting to destabilise the country.

In their latest encounter with state harassment, Chinanzvavana, Tembo, as well as Hodzi had to endure the pain and embarrassment of being chained into court.

Prison guards attempted to justify their actions by We have failed on keys issues From Page 1 informing the Magistrate that the murder suspects a non-partisan network of civil society Apart from bringing relative economic stability, Frequent wrangling over policy and the slow were classified as Class “D” prisoners at Chinhoyi organisations dedicated to monitoring and the coalition government has remained fragile pace of reforms, coupled with unilateral Remand Prison, and were therefore dangerous. evaluating the implementation of the IPA. and cannot agree on how to implement actions, have held back progress by the The monitoring process is meant to hold the commitments they agreed and signed up to in the fragile unity government. The country is Infuriated by the prison guards’ unlawful actions, three political principals - namely President IPA, particularly those relating to the return to struggling to restore productivity, feed itself lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Rule of Law and democratisation of critical state and repair its ruined infrastructure - largely Lawyers for Human Rights protested that the blamed on the previous government’s three Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister institutions of justice delivery. chaining of his clients was illegal. decade-long misrule. Arthur Mutambara - to account. Concurring with Zhuwarara, the Magistrate Although not as pervasive as before, CISOMM In response to the lethargic progress in ordered the prison guards not to chain murder In its annual review of the fragile coalition said police continued to harass human rights government, most international and regional suspects when they were appearing in court as administration, CISOMM said the defenders. Political activists who engage in donors have withheld aid and demanded this was degrading and inhumane. government had failed to deliver as rights peaceful protests or meetings remain at risk broad political reforms and assurances that violations continued while most benchmarks of arbitrary arrest, detention, beatings and Mugabe is ready to genuinely share power The chaining of suspects is only part of the set out in the IPA were yet to be met. attempted abductions. with the former trade union leader. dehumanising treatment Zimbabwe’s prisoners have to bear. Several prisoners, among them