Zim: Magistrate orders investigation on torture of journalist

Manyere was kidnapped and held incommunicado for more than three weeks.

Earlier in the day, the matter had been postponed to January 27, 2009 after prison officials failed to bring Manyere and his co-accused to court citing fuel/transport shortages.

In insisting on the presentation of a police report on alleged torture at the next remand date on February 9, 2009 Magistrate Gloria Takundwa dismissed an affidavit filed by State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa seeking to block the investigation. She said that Mutasa was obliged to wait for an investigation into the allegations before filing the affidavit.

Magistrate Takundwa also advised the State to come up with a trial date on 9 February, 2009.

Background

Manyere is jointly charged with six alleged Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists under Section 23 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act that criminalises acts of insurgence, banditry, sabotage or terrorism. His charges arise from alleged illegal possession of 47 rounds of 9mm ammunition found in his wardrobe. The subjection of torture on the accused was medically confirmed by affidavits produced before the court. Defence lawyers have dismissed the charges as unfounded and nonsensical.