MISA COMMUNIQUÉ

15 SEPTEMBER 2002

A DAY IN A POLICE CELL: TAWANDA MAJONI TELLS HIS STORY

Tawanda Majoni a reporter with Zimbabwe's new and fourth daily paper, The
Daily Mirror recited to MISA-Zimbabwe in an interview on Sunday 14
September, the story of his arrest on Thursday 12 September and how he
suffered in police cells. Majoni is a former police officer and he left the
force after studying for a Diploma in Journalism. He was arrested on
Thursday 13 September 2002 for allegedly writing a false story about the
health status of the Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri.

*****************************************************
The police picked me up on Thursday 12 September as I was coming from the
offices of a business organization where I had gone to pick some documents
for a story I was working on.

The time then was 3 pm in the afternoon. About three men in plain clothes
picked me up and told me that I was under arrests and that I was to
accompany them to the Harare central police station. The police officers
from the Law and Order Section immediately informed me that I was under
surveillance since Monday 9 September when I wrote a story on the status of
the health of the Police commissioner Augustine Chihuri.

At the Central police station I was taken to one detective Inspector (name
given).
"You know where we are going," said the Detective Inspector.
"There we beat people who do not cooperate and as you might know, noone
knows where you are," added the inspector.

I was searched and the documents that I had, my cellphone and a packet of
cigarettes were taken. The police officer that had searched me immediately
pulled one cigarette from my pack and started smoking. Back with the
Detective Inspector, who is the Investigating Officer, I was taken for
fingerprints and the interrogation started. The inspector repeated that he
would need my cooperation otherwise I would be taken to the "dark room"
where I would be beaten. In told him that it would not be necessary for them
to beat me, as I would cooperate.

I was asked about the details of my relatives in Harare and those in my
rural home. The inspector asked me to give him the names of the people who
gave me the information about the police commissioner. He also wanted all
the information on how I had gone about writing the story. I told him that
it would be problematic for me to give him the names of the people I had
talked to though I told him how I had gone about finding facts on the story
and mentioned some places I had "visited". The Inspector made me to sign an
affidavit purportedly as a record of what I had said. The inspector said
that I would be charged under section 80 of the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act, for allegedly writing falsehoods.

At this time the inspector who was interviewing me with another Constable
asked me whether I wanted more officers to come and interrogate me as well.
I replied that I really do not mind the number of my interrogators. I asked
for permission to call my wife since I had some money, which she wanted to
use. This was refused and infact I was refused contact with anyone. I then
gave some money to the Constable so that he could buy me some food. When my
two interrogators went out another Constable came in. I had heard him being
called Diva by his colleagues when I came in.
"You know, the situation in the cells is bad. There are bugs, lice and the
blankets are dirty," said Diva.
"If you give me $1500 I will make sure that you are treated well,"

I refused the offer. At 9 pm after what seemed like eternity I was taken
into a police cell. The cell is meant for 4 people but there were 20 of us
inside. There was a strong stench of urine and human waste. I remained
standing when almost all others were sleeping. Another prisoner called me to
come and sleep as they had left a small space for me. Finally I succumbed
and occupied my little space. The following day I actually realized that the
blanket that I had was stained with human waste. I am struggling having to
eat anything up to today.

Friday Morning around 9 am I was taken for a second round of interrogation.
The Inspector informed me that they believed I had made up all the
information that I had given them, the previous day. I was informed that I
would be charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Within some
time this changed to Criminal Defamation. And with a few minutes again, I
was informed that my departure from the police had been unprocedural and
that my present employer employed me whilst I was still working for the
police force. This is a crime under the Police Act and I would infact be
charged under that. I was immediately informed that my internal trial, a
form of a court marshal, would be conducted on Monday 16 September 2002.
This date was set despite my protest that I had left the force procedurally
and that I needed time to consult my lawyer.

At 12 in the afternoon of Friday 12 September I was released. I asked for my
phone to which I was replied that the phone needed to be vetted for all the
people I had talked to. The Inspector informed me that I was under open
arrest and that I had to stay at home.

I am however afraid that if I am sent to prison I will not survive as this
matter involves the police chief himself. Infact on Monday evening I called
the Police Commissioner and he said unprintable words to me over the phone.
He asked me to come to his office and I had agreed. This meeting was however
cancelled by him, before I could go there. I am constantly looking over my
shoulder as anything can happen any time.

On Monday 16 September, I will be going to the Police with my Lawyer. My
lawyer has informed me that he will ask for the matter to be postponed, as
he needs time to study the charges and also prepare his paperwork.

Background

Check a MISA-Zimbabwe alert of Thursday 12 September 2002.

End

Rashweat Mukundu
Research and Information Officer
MISA-Zimbabwe
221 Fife Ave
Box HR 8113
Harare
Zimbabwe

Phone: 00 263 4 721 841, 735 441-2
Cell : 00 263 11 602 685
E mail: [email protected] [2]