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afrol News, 11 April - On the afternoon of 7 April Mr Tawanda Hondora, the chairperson of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), was the victim of a brutal attack by members of governing party ZANU-PF in full view of, and with the active participation of, members of the Zimbabwean Police, according to a release by the rights group. According to the information received by afrol News, "Mr Hondora had gone to Sadza Growth Point in Chikomba constituency in the company of two lawyers from the Human Rights Forum Legal Unit to investigate allegations that persons from the area who came forward to testify in the court case challenging the election result in the district had been assaulted by police officers in the district." - At the Sadza Growth Point, the lawyers observed that a group of about 30 persons wearing ZANU-PF t-shirts were assaulting Mr Nelson Chivanga, one of the witnesses from the election challenges, ZLHR states. Uniformed police officers stood by and watched. The group of assailants noticed the "foreigners" (all three black Zimbabwean male lawyers) watching the assault and gave chase. Two of the lawyers reportedly managed to escape but Mr Hondora was caught by the mob which was continuing the brutal attack on Mr Chivanga. "Mr Hondora was then kicked, slapped, hit with fists, whipped and hit behind the ear with a stone. He has a suspected broken jaw." The mob then forced Mr Hondora to chant ZANU-PF slogans and to toyi-toyi to the police station. At the police station Mr Hondora and Mr Chivanga reportedly were "extensively searched, interrogated about their relationship to the MDC and further tortured. They were assaulted by Constable Mapfumo in the presence of Assistant Inspector Majora, Woman Constable Mafandizvo, Woman Constable Masaringo and Constable Nikisi. Constable Moses Zhakata later took over the beatings," ZLHR reports. When the other two lawyers arrived at the police station to rescue their colleague, Asst Inspector Majora reportedly detained them as well. "He ordered all police details to be armed and distributed live ammunition. Asst Inspector Majora then proceeded to lecture the lawyers about the evils of the MDC stating that as educated people they ought to be wiser and not allow themselves to be used by white people. He threatened to call Mr Chenjerai Hunzvi, war veterans and the army to further assault the lawyers." Further, the ZLHR claims that he refused to allow the lawyers to report the assault and denied Mr Hondora police protection from the waiting mob in order to go to the clinic to have his injuries tended to. In all, Mr Hondora was detained for over 3 hours. The lawyers proceeded to Harare, after having their car searched, and filed a formal complaint at Harare Central Police Station. Mr Hondora then proceeded to obtain medical attention. ZLHR says it is "outraged by the continued brutality, lack of respect for fundamental human rights and political partisanship of the Zimbabwe Republic Police." The group demands "a full investigation into this incident, as well as into other reported instances of political violence and the denial of protection by the police to the victims. We condemn police involvement with the vigilante groups of ZANU-PF supporters who are creating a reign of terror in Zimbabwe," the statement says.
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