Mike Davis

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: The following content contains graphic descriptions of torture and violence that may be distressing to some readers. Our trial monitor on the ground witnessed the trial held today during which Namatai Kwekweza @namataik_ through her lawyers recounted the following; Namatai was kicked and shoved to enter via a carousel that ordinarily carries luggage into the domestic terminal at Robert Mugabe International Airport. She and others were detained in an excluded poorly lit room at the domestic terminal of the airport. She was forced into a dark room where each individual was held in solitary confinement and was #tortured by around 12 men. The trauma of being interrogated by all men and no woman is unimaginable. The dark room where she was being tortured also had a huge pit that had pieces of metal and drums. The torturers boasted that no one knew where Namatai was and they could do anything with her and her fellow defenders and no one would ever know. The torture inflicted upon her is beyond comprehension: being hit with open hands, clenched fists, wooden planks, and iron bars. An iron bar was shoved into her mouth. A booted foot was also attempted to be shoved in her mouth. To add to the inhumanity, she would be made to sit down and water would be poured on her body. The ordeal reached a new level of horror when she witnessed the brutal torture of Robson Chere and was brought into the torture chamber to see his motionless body in a pool of water. She was forced to endure the unimaginable #trauma of believing she had witnessed the killing of a fellow #HRD. The physical and psychological torture and threats she experienced are a gross violation of #HumanRights. The torturers, with a chilling disregard for humanity, recorded the torture with their mobile phones. This ordeal lasted for hours at the airport. Throughout this horrific ordeal, Namatai was denied access to her lawyers, her mobile phones, and a laptop were forcibly seized from her without any legal justification. After being held incommunicado at the airport, she was transferred to Harare Central Police Station. It was only upon arrival at Harare Central Police that she was allowed to consult her lawyers. However, even the relative safety of Harare Central Police Station did not provide respite. She was placed in a cell accessible to males. A man identifying himself as Muroyiwa from the Police Internal Security Intelligence entered her cell under the pretence of checking on her health and safety. Namatai’s refusal to engage with him further compounded her trauma. These are the harrowing experiences of a Woman Human Rights Defender, a woman who has dedicated her life to protecting the rights of others. This is a reminder of the dangers faced by those who dare to speak truth to power. We demand justice for Namatai Kwekweza and all victims of such heinous crimes. @ZLHRLawyers @FordFoundation @achpr_cadhp @amnesty @euinzim @USEmbZim @_AfricanUnion @BBCAfrica @UNHumanRights @UKinZimbabwe @NLinZimbabwe @weleadteam @AfricanPOC @JusticeDefend @vanyaradzayi @advocatemahere @KofiAnnanFdn @TamukaKagoro77 @LarryMadowo @unwomenafrica @guardian @TrustAfrica @amnesty_zim #ReleaseNamatai #SafeguardingWHRDs #JusticeForNamatai #Zimbabwe