By Staff Reporter
ARRESTED 80 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists were allegedly tortured while in police custody.
They were arrested on Sunday for allegedly holding an unlawful meeting.
Lawyers say that the youths were holding a private meeting at the CCC leader Jameson Timba’s Avondale residence to commemorate International Youth Day.
They are being charged with participating in an illegal gathering and disorderly conduct.
The activists initially appeared at Harare Magistrates court Tuesday morning with many of them visibly injured.
Many of them were failing to walk properly with some even wailing.
“Takarohwa takanyikwa mumvura, vakadzi vakakandwa muswimming pool, vakakandwa musewage. Tairohwa nebutton stick nemambama, vakadzi vakapfugamiswa vachifamba nemabvi, hurumende ine hutsinye (we were brutally assaulted with button sticks, women were made to crawl and thrown into a swimming pool. The government is evil.)
“Female suspects were forced to remove their clothes and remained in under garments in the presence of men,” shouted one of the activists as they entered into court.
Meanwhile another elderly woman who attended Harare Magistrates Court in solidarity with her grandchildren who are part of the arrested activists was also allegedly assaulted by police as she tried to get into court.
