Report on the events of Friday 13 2009; the arrest and detention of Roy Bennett

The arrest of Roy Bennett was ordered by Assistant Commissioner Mabunda and Assistant Commissioner Nhau of Harare Police General Headquarters.  Assistant Commissioner Mabunda is an Elder member of the ZAOGA Church in Harare.

Following the arrest of Mr. Bennett, at Charles Prince Airport in Harare, he was first taken to Goromonzi Police Station where he was charged with treason. He was then taken to Mutare Central.  During the journey the   accompanying personnel, who Mr. Bennett does not know the identity of, communicated regularly with Assistant Commissioners Mabunda and Nhau to keep them appraised of the situation along the way. It is not known whether they were aware that they were being followed throughout the journey. They stopped to refuel the vehicle in Marondera but were travelling at high speed and a witness described the driver as appearing to be nervous. The vehicle had been tracked from Harare and stopped to refuel in Marondera enabling the spotter vehicles to catch up and follow for the remainder of the journey to Mutare. Along the way communicating with a chain of activists at the ready to relay reports.

When the vehicle arrived at Mutare Central a crowd of peaceful MDC supporters gathered to show solidarity with Mr. Bennett.  Word passed through the swelling crowd, that grew to approximately two hundred people, that the police were preparing to remove Mr. Bennett to a secret location. The registration plates had been removed from the Toyota Hilux 4 by 4 that brought Mr. Bennett to Mutare. The old registration plate, underneath the civilian registration plate since removed, registered GML.

The vehicle started to move so the crowd reacted by attempting to block the exit to prevent Mr. Bennett being taken to an unknown location.  The crowd was singing and dancing peacefully. The police then started to try and move the crowd back and away from the exit. The crowd resisted vocally insisting that they did not want Mr. Bennett moved and were not moving. They were forced to retreat when the dogs appeared and the Police started threatening strong action and with truncheons forced the crowd back. The vehicle moved out of the police station with only one person in the vehicle. The crowd were permitted to inspect that it did not contain Mr. Bennett.

The crowd was not satisfied and wanted to hold an all night vigil to show solidarity. The police initially passively resisted the crowd but when the atmosphere became charged the riot police were brought in. Then the crowd was dispersed with police dogs and truncheons. They dispersed but slowly returned. The final disbursement was with indiscriminate firing of tear gas, dogs, rubber bullets and live rounds fired in the air. Two people were badly beaten by the police and several witness accounts indicated that the police brutality with the unlucky victims was vicious. The victims names are known and one was taken to hospital. The other could not be found. Some windows of shops were broken but nothing appeared to have been looted. Some people tried to defend themselves by picking up rocks from broken pavements and anything readily accessible to resist the violent actions of the police. The windows probably broke during these scuffles but the crowd showed no indication that there was any criminal intent in their behaviour.

MDC activists roamed the area throughout the night to communicate any attempt to remove Mr. Bennett. 

At seven thirty on Saturday morning food was taken to the Police Station but the Police details manning the entrance refused access to not only the people with food for Mr. Bennett but all prisoners whose families were bringing meagre food portions for their relatives in detention. Inspector Florence Marume was most unpleasant and harsh and ordered that no feeding would occur that day. The Police Station was then blocked off and heavily armed police details then roamed the streets and forced the pedestrian and motor traffic away from the area. Eventually Mr. Bennett's lawyers were allowed access to him and food was taken in. Initially not even the lawyers were allowed access. Inspector Marume was advised that she would be held personally responsible for denying Mr. Bennett and other detainees food and legal counsel for Mr. Bennett. She was unmoved and could be seen directing operations from within the fence for several hours there after. Inspector Marume is an active member of the United Methodist Church in Mutare but whilst being of large healthy proportions herself denied food to detainees and Mr. Bennett's access to his lawyer.

In the afternoon Mr. Bennett was seen by MDC executives from the Province. He was in good spirits and was unharmed.

On Saturday, during the night, eight activists were apprehended by riot police. The roads surrounding the Mutare Central Police Station remain barricaded and manned by police details.

On Sunday morning Mr Bennett was allowed food and access to two lawyers and the Provincial executive. The Charging Officer was Superintendent Makoni from Bindura. He was courteous and Mr. Bennett was allowed private time with his lawyer. He was still unharmed. He has not been charged with treason but with a lesser charge. He will appear in court tomorrow, Monday. He has a strong support base monitoring the situation and maintaining a presence around the police station reporting on any events that unfold. 

Issued by the Movement for Democratic Change, February 16 2009