SW Radio Africa (London)
Violet Gonda
3 November 2009
The MDC employee, Pascal Gwezere, who was abducted by armed men from his home in Harare last Tuesday, has made an appearance. On Saturday he appeared in court, charged with the theft of arms.
Some media reports had claimed the badly beaten MDC Transport Manager had been dumped back at his house on Wednesday, but the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) denied those reports and said Gwezere was 'clandestinely' brought to the Harare Magistrates' Court on Saturday. He is accused of undergoing military training in Uganda and stealing firearms from an army barracks in Harare. He was denied any legal representation or medical treatment, despite clear signs of torture.
Human rights lawyer Alex Muchadehama was only allowed access to his client on Sunday, where it was revealed that the Transport Manager had been shuttled between various police stations since his abduction. He had been abducted by military intelligence officers, Central Intelligence Organisation operatives, detectives from Law and Order, Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI) and 15 police officers who were in anti-riot gear.
Gwezere was denied bail when he appeared in court on Saturday. State prosecutor Bruce Tokwe opposed bail, claiming Gwezere was facing a serious offence and was a flight risk.
A statement by the ZLHR said: "In an affidavit filed with the court, Chief Superintendent Charles Ngirishi, the Officer Commanding Criminal Investigations Department Law and Order at Harare Central police station, alleged that Gwezere broke into Pomona Army Barracks One Engineers Support Regiment Armoury on 20 October, together with a lady only identified as Gertrude and several army officers, and stole 20 AK 47 rifles and a shot gun, which they took to an unknown destination."
Muchadahema told SW Radio Africa that Gwezere, together with other MDC activists, are accused of having undergone military training from 31 July 1999 to 13 October 1999 at Soroti Training Camp in Northern Uganda, with the intention of destabilizing Mugabe's previous administration upon their return. Gwezere denies this. His lawyer said his client did travel to Uganda in 1999, but for a workshop and that his passport will show that he was only there for three days.
Muchadahema said Gwezere was tortured in detention, including being blindfolded, beaten under the feet and was indecently assaulted. It's reported he sustained serious injuries, resulting in the Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi giving an order that the MDC official should be treated at the prison hospital.
The ZLHR said prison doctor Dr. Dhobi refused to attend to Gwezere. ZLHR Director Irene Petras attempted to have Gwezere seen by a private doctor but the medical doctor was barred from entering Harare Remand Prison.
This latest abduction comes amid reports that a group of soldiers were arrested recently for reportedly stealing weapons from Pomona Army Barracks in Harare. An MDC house in Chisipite was also raided and a couple staying at the house were assaulted. Gwezere told his lawyer that ZANU PF are trying to build a case against the MDC because of the party's decision to disengage from ZANU PF over the lack of implementation of the Global Political Agreement. He said he went through intense interrogation during his abduction about Morgan Tsvangirai's strategy in disengaging from Cabinet and Council of Ministers' meetings.
Gwezere was remanded in custody to 13th November but his lawyer is trying to have the matter called up in court on Thursday so his client can place on record complaints against his abductors and apply for refusal of remand.
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