Lawyer: Zimbabwean protesters beaten at Zanu-PF offices

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Seventy people appeared in court in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare on Saturday following arrests during the previous day’s “mega demonstration”.

Among those facing charges of inciting public violence were a pregnant woman, two elderly people, three children and a journalist. All defendants except the children were remanded in custody until a bail hearing on Monday, Jacob Mafume from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said.

He said police had carried out arbitrary arrests at the demonstration, adding that many defendants showed signs of having been beaten.

“Most those who appeared in court today were injured, limping, and say they were taken to the ruling party’s headquarters in Harare, were they were beaten before being handed over to the police,” Mafume told Anadolu Agency, referring to President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a group of more than 80 civil society organizations working for democratic change, called on the government to uphold the constitution and respect fundamental rights.

“Differing with the ideology of the government of the day should never be criminalized,” it said in a statement. “We further urge regional, continental as well as international organizations to intervene and assist in alleviating the Zimbabwean crisis, which is threatening the lives of opposition and civic society activists.”

The U.S. and Canadian embassies issued statements condemning human rights abuses. In a tweet, Canadian Ambassador Kumar Gupta added: “Peaceful protest is essential -- even in the face of adversity. This is the right of all Zimbabweans.”

Friday’s demonstration saw around 5,000 protesters tear gassed and beaten by police despite a High Court ruling allowing the march. They were calling for electoral reform ahead of the election in 2018, when President Robert Mugabe, 92, has said he will stand again.

Protests have proliferated in recent months as the country's economy suffers the effects of alleged corruption and mismanagement.