Harare magistrates court on Saturday morning looked like a hospital emergency department when nine members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were delivered by police. All showed signs of beatings and torture, and two were said to be in a critical condition.
The nine had been arrested during the week, accused of being behind a spate of bombings. They faced charges of terrorism, carrying a sentence of life imprisonment. But the MDC claims the bomb-making equipment and incriminating documents were planted by police.
The nine men were in such a pitiable state - their injuries included broken bones - that magistrate Faith Mushore ordered them to be taken to hospital for immediate attention.
The photograph (right) shows Ian Makone, special advisor to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, being |
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MDC members were
in such bad shape
even a police officer
broke down in tears |
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taken away to hospital. He and Shame Wakatama were so badly injured they had to be given emergency treatment outside the court before they could be moved.
The scene was witnessed by MDC MP Willias Madzimure, who wept as Makone gasped for breath. Madzimure shouted at police: "Makone is dying. One of these days you will be accountable." A female police officer was seen to break down in tears at the sight of the injuries.
The aborted court appearance came the morning after Robert Mugabe secured the backing of his party's central committee to stand again for the presidency in next year's election.
The other injured MDC members included Glen View MP Paul Madzore, whose brother, Solomon, witnessed his arrest. "It was almost midnight. The police just bulldozed their way into our home, and grabbed him."
FIRST POSTED APRIL 1, 2007
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