The vice-chairperson of the opposition MDC Alliance, Job “Wiwa” Sikhala has claimed that people were randomly beaten at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday.
Sikhala was appearing in court for the commencement of his trial on inciting Public Violence over the July 31st, 2020, demonstration.
He was being represented by a legal team of Harrison Nkomo and Jeremiah Bamu with assistance from Daniel Molokele and Tendai Biti.
However, “the State retreated from its undertaking to commence” the trial on the Public Violence charges asking for “more time to obtain forensic evidence.”
It is during the period Sikhala was at the court that members of the public who were outside the court were randomly beaten by police officers.
Posting on microblogging site Twitter this Friday, Sikhala said:
I am shocked by reports I am getting that people were randomly beaten outside Rotten Row Magistrates Court yesterday without cause because my Court session was in motion. This barbarism needs to stop. Why are people being assaulted without cause?
This comes a few days after a journalist was assaulted by police officers who were dispersing people outside the same court where MDC Alliance activist, Makomborero Haruzivishe was sentenced for inciting public violence and violating COVID-19 regulations.
State security agents have in the past been criticised for their brutality on civilians.
More: Pindula News