Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist, Godfrey Karembera, popularly known as Madzibaba Veshanduko, who last week arrested and tortured by the police has challenged his placement on remand arguing that he was held beyond the lawful 48-hour detention period.
His lawyer Doug Coltart said Karembera was arrested on Thursday 08:30 am and only attended to on Saturday at 1400 hours.
Karembera also told Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko that he was unlawfully arrested.
The State alleged he tried to deface the popular Mbuya Nehanda statue but through his lawyer, Karembera denied the allegations stating that police spokesman Paul Nyathi lied. He allegedly said:
Mapurisa makamama, makajaira kushandiswa nana Chiwenga, muri imbwa dzevanhu, munoita semunotambiriswa goridhe sei.
Loosely translated, it means: “You police officers are useless, and you are being used by (Vice President Constantino) Chiwenga. You are dogs. Why do you behave like you earn your salaries in sacks of gold?
Those allegations were not included in the court papers. Coltart said:
Nyathi is quoted saying the accused person was arrested for attempting to deface Mbuya Nehanda statue. There was no allegations relating to that on the court papers and it is common cause that the accused was more than 300 meters away from the Mbuya Nehanda statue. Nyathi lied and we don’t know where he got that from. He wanted to create his own narrative after the abuse of the CCC activist.
Karembera is being accused of undermining the authority of the police by insulting them.
Coltart presented evidence from doctor Jonathan Fernandes who examined Karembera at the Harare Central Police Station and he said he found Karembera with fresh bruises and scratches of beatings.
Fernandes said Karembera was struggling to walk due to the wounds on his feet, had a swollen eye and was unable to sit.
Coltart identified the lead attacker as one Constable Manyeruke.
He also said Karembera was never asked to sign the warned and cautioned statement which was only given to the lawyer in court.
Magistrate Barbara Mateko postponed the matter to Tuesday.
More: NewZimbabwe.com