The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) on Friday said it had assisted two Bulawayo women who were victims of police brutality to make a formal report.
NPRC investigators led by Commissioner Leslie Ncube, who is in charge of the three Matabeleland provinces, said they were shocked by the level of abuse the women were subjected to. He said:
They were brutally attacked by male police officers who beat them on the thighs and buttocks while insulting them. We are told that the officers were insulting them using derogatory language which also fuels ethnical hatred.
The victims told us that the officers were telling them that there is nothing special with their hips as they also have wives with even bigger hips. So clearly the police officers became too personal instead of executing their police duties.
The police are supposed to be the custodians of law and are supposed to protect the lives of the vulnerable in our society. We condemn the behaviour of the said police officers.
The victims were allegedly insulted. Such actions are not expected from the police officers especially in an independent Zimbabwe.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi rebuked the officers who were involved in the abuse, saying they should not get carried away when they perform their duties.
The two women, who are sisters, were snatched from a queue at a supermarket and handcuffed, “because they were rude” before they were severely assaulted and left with bruises.