Four rights activists, including Namatayi Kwekweza, the executive director of WELEAD Trust; Robson Chere, the secretary-general of ARTUZ; Vusumuzi Moyo; and Samuel Gwenzi, Harare Ward 5 Councillor, have arrived in court following their dramatic seizure from a plane at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (RGM) on 31 July 2024.
Their detention has raised concerns regarding the treatment of activists in Zimbabwe, particularly in light of the allegations of torture they reportedly faced after being apprehended by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
The activists were charged with disorderly conduct, a charge that stems from their participation in a solidarity protest in June, which was held in support of 79 members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists who had been detained.
The protest took place outside the Harare Magistrates’ Court as Jameson Timba and other detained activists were appearing for their respective court cases.
According to reports from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the activists spent a harrowing night at Harare Central Police Station. Observations from the court appearance revealed that Robson Chere exhibited visible signs of torture and was in severe pain, raising alarms about the conditions under which they were detained.
ZLHR took to X (formerly Twitter) to provide updates on the situation, stating, “The allegations are that they participated in a demonstration at Rotten Row when Jameson Timba and others appeared at court.”
The arrests have sparked outrage among human rights groups and activists who argue that such actions are part of a broader crackdown on dissent and the suppression of civil liberties in Zimbabwe.
SOURCE : NEWSREPORTZIM.COM
