The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has refuted reports claiming that lawyer Kudzayi Kadzere was assaulted by police officers whilst attending to some members of the opposition CCC who were arrested and detained at Budiriro 2 Police Station on Saturday, 14 January 2023.
In a statement, ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Kadzere jumped off a moving police vehicle and sustained injuries. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
<h2>CLARITY BY THE ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE ON ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULT ON LAWYER, KUDZAYI KADZERE</h2>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police wishes to set the record straight and clarify the exact position with regards to allegations of assault on lawyer, Kudzayi Kadzere by police officers.
It is a fact that the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)’s Costa Machingauta convened an unsanctioned gathering at house number 9293 Mvumba Crescent, Budiriro 5A, Harare.
The local Zimbabwe Republic Police station received information and reacted to the scene.
Police Officers observed that nearly 500 supporters had gathered for the meeting clad in their party regalia.
The supporters had blocked Mvumba Crescent, Dehwe Road, Magodo Road and Budiriro OK Rank.
This affected the movement of motorists and other members of the public who wanted to pass through.
The police officers engaged Costa Machingauta to disperse the supporters. 
However, there was open resistance, with supporters chanting obscene and derogatory songs to the police officers.
In the process, the CCC youths went on to damage the doors of a certain house as they resisted arrest and allegedly stole a cellphone.
Twenty-four supporters were arrested. Costa Machingauta escaped arrest and later on handed himself to the police on 18th January 2023.
Suddenly Kudzayi Kadzere appeared on the scene in a private vehicle and clashed with the Police Reaction Group members who were taking the suspects to Budiriro Police Station.
Kudzayi Kadzere was then arrested for contravening section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. He was then put in the police truck.
In a bid to resist arrest, Kudzayi Kadzere jumped off the police truck. He sustained an injury on the right hand.
Police officers rearrested Kudzayi Kadzere and took him to Budiriro Police Station.
On arrival at the police station Kudzayi Kadzere openly declined to lodge a report against police officers.
He insisted that he was not assaulted by the police officers during the misunderstanding. Kadzere was then released to seek medical attention.
On the 15th of January 2023, Kudzayi Kadzere came back to Budiriro Police Station and had his warned and cautioned statement recorded.
On 17th January 2023, Kudzayi Kadzere changed his mind. He made a report of assault and theft at Budiriro Police Station.
This is despite the fact that he had initially declined to make a police report on the 14th of January 2023. The case is now under investigation.
It is clear that the information given to CCC members and later posted on social media platforms is tailor-made to suit a certain agenda whilst ignoring the real facts on the ground.
Kudzayi Kadzere knows the truth about what actually transpired between him and the police officers.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has engaged Kudzayi Kadzere from 14th January 2023 up to the time he decided to change his mind.
The public should take note that, what Kudzayi Kadzere said to the police and the information which he is allegedly giving to the media, his peers and CCC leadership are not consistent.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police reaffirms its readiness to interact and engage members of the legal fraternity in an open and transparent manner without facts being twisted to suit various agendas.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe Police Deny Assaulting Lawyer, Say He Jumped Off Moving Vehicle

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Lawyers_for_Human_Rights">Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)</a>, a not-for-profit human rights organization which seeks to foster a culture of human rights in Zimbabwe, has condemned the police for assaulting a Harare-based human rights lawyer. 
ZLHR speaks after reports that Kudzai Kadzere was assaulted with “truncheons and fists” on Saturday while he was attending to opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/just-in-amos-chibaya-and-other-ccc-leaders-arrested/">officials who were detained at Budiriro 2 Police Station</a>.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/just-in-amos-chibaya-and-other-ccc-leaders-arrested/">Just In: Amos Chibaya And Other CCC Leaders Arrested</a></li>
<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/lawyer-beaten-lsz-criticises-police-for-taking-front-row-seat-to-violate-rights-of-all-citizens/">Lawyer Beaten: LSZ Criticises Police “For Taking Front-row Seat To Violate Rights Of All Citizens”</a></li>
<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/lawyer-badly-beaten-arrested-while-attending-to-arrested-ccc-officials-mahere/">“Lawyer Badly Beaten, Arrested While Attending To Arrested CCC Officials” – Mahere</a></li>
</ul>
Kadzere spoke to the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) and confirmed the assault. 
In a statement seen by Pindula News, ZLHR Kadzere sustained a fractured hand. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
In Zimbabwe, this is how Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) treat legal practitioners. Our member lawyer Kudzai Kadzere sustained some injuries including a fractured hand after he was ambushed by about 40 police officers in Budiriro high-density suburb &amp; was heavily assaulted, when he went to Budiriro Police Station to represent his clients, who had been arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Police officers used truncheons &amp; fists to assault the human rights lawyer.
</blockquote>
Over the years, police have been criticised for brutality against members of the opposition and government critics.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZLHR: "Police Officers Used Truncheons And Fists To Assault The Human Rights Lawyer"

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Law_Society_of_Zimbabwe">Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ)</a> has expressed concern over reports that a Harare lawyer, Kudzai Kadzere was assaulted by police on Saturday while he was attending to members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) who had been arrested.
CCC reported yesterday that <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/lawyer-badly-beaten-arrested-while-attending-to-arrested-ccc-officials-mahere/">Kadzere was “badly beaten and arrested”</a> while attending to party officials including Amos Chibaya who were detained at Budiriro 2 police station.
In a statement seen by Pindula News, LSZ criticised the police for taking a front-row seat to violate the rights of all citizens when they have a constitutional obligation to protect them. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
<h2>EM/rc/LSZ statement on assault of lawyer by police/2023 14 January 2023 </h2>
Law Society of Zimbabwe statement on reports of police assault on Harare lawyer Mr Kudzai Kadzere
The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) expresses deep concern at reports that one of its members and Harare lawyer Mr Kudzai Kadzere, was assaulted and humiliated by police details early Saturday. 
Information reaching the Law Society of Zimbabwe is that Mr Kadzere had apparently reacted to a plea for legal assistance by a group of opposition political party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists in Harare’s high-density suburb of Budiriro. Upon arrival at the police station, Mr Kadzere was reportedly seized and assaulted by police officials. 
Mr Kadzere has confirmed the assault. Just this week, we issued a statement condemning reports of violence in Murewa and calling on the state to do everything possible to nip political violence in the bud. To have such brazen conduct from police officers demonstrates a high level of impunity by officers and nothing short of swift disciplinary action will restore public confidence in the police. 
Our Constitution and numerous other international instruments to which Zimbabwe is a state party provide for rights to legal representation and the right of lawyers to do their work freely without hindrance.
Our own courts have pronounced themselves unequivocally on the rights of legal practitioners to conduct their professional duties without any hindrance. 
This is a new low for Zimbabwe and we are deeply disappointed that of all people, the police who have a constitutional obligation to protect the rights of all citizens have taken a front-row seat to violating the same. This is a sad indictment on the professionalism of our police force which is expected to operate in a fair and non-partisan manner.
 The Law Society of Zimbabwe demands an explanation and a full investigation as well as prosecution of those behind Mr Kadzere’s assault. Such kind of behaviour must not be allowed in our country and should be frowned upon. The right of lawyers to represent all who require legal representation should be sacrosanct and the police must be the first to defend it. 
We wish Mr Kadzere a speedy recovery. 
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Lawyer Beaten: LSZ Criticises Police "For Taking Front-row Seat To Violate Rights Of All Citizens"

Lawyer Kudzai Kadzere was Saturday beaten and arrested while he was attending to some members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) who were arrested and detained at Budiriro 2 Police Station.
In a report seen by Pindula News, CCC national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere said charges against the lawyer are not yet clear. She said:
<blockquote>
We’ve received a concerning report that lawyer Kudzai Kadzere has been badly beaten while attending upon clients at Budiriro 2 Police Station. We condemn this attack on the legal profession. 
</blockquote>
Mahere later issued an update noting:
<blockquote>
We have received a report that lawyer Kadzere is badly injured. He has been arrested as well. The details of the charge are unclear.
</blockquote>
Kadzere was attending to CCC Member of Parliament (MP) for <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Mkoba" title="Mkoba">Mkoba</a> constituency, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Amos_Chibaya">Amos Chibaya</a> and other <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/just-in-amos-chibaya-and-other-ccc-leaders-arrested/">party officials who were arrested this Saturday</a> in Harare. The charges are unclear. 
They were allegedly attending a private meeting in Harare this morning. 
They were detained at Budiriro Police Station. 
The party is demanding their immediate release.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

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