Prison conditions are “the worst I have ever experienced” – Roy Bennett
March 9th, 2009
Yesterday four close friends visited Roy Bennett in the Mutare Remand Prison. Outside the prison, the faithful MDC supporters are still keeping their day and night vigil. Although few of them can be sure of actually seeing him, they remain there in absolute solidarity for a man who is their hero. They are wearing T-Shirts saying “release the Hostages”.
Deputy Lands Minister designate Roy Bennett was abducted, by CIO operatives, and after a nightmare high-speed chase by his supporters, ending up in the Police cells in Mutare.
Honourable Bennett described the conditions in the prison as “the worst I have ever experienced”. His experience is considerable, as is well known.
The capacity of the prison is 200 yet there are approximately 340 remand prisoners being held there. They have two threadbare blankets as their bedding, and receive a single handful of sadza (mealie meal) a day at around 3pm. There is seldom any vegetable relish with which to eat their meagre ration.
This is not the fault of the Officer in charge or his subordinates, it is the total disregard for human rights by the commissioner of prisons and his deputies.
Last week a remand prisoner died and his body was only removed four days later. The reason? No fuel.
The Magistrate in Mutare who granted Hon. Bennett bail, has been arrested and is incarcerated in the Police cells. We are reliably informed that his colleagues have stated that they will not be presiding over any cases this week, as they feel that could lead to them also being arrested.
The conditions under which our prisoners are being kept is a disgrace. It is inhuman. No person deserves to be starved to death while the Reserve Bank governor continues to afford the party cronies fancy new vehicles, birthday parties and the like.
It is abundantly obvious that since the breakdown in the rule of law ten years ago that “you are guilty until proven innocent”.
This goes against all citizens basic human rights. Until the rule of law is restored in our beloved country, the new dispensation is going to sail very stormy seas.
May God Help Zimbabwe.
March 9th, 2009 22:42
Zimondi is responsible for prisons. He should be arrested immediately and charged for crimes against humanity. Can ZLHR do a citizen’s arrest and take him to court? Isn’t there one single police station (with a holding cell) in the whole of Zimbabwe that knows about law and order and will do the right thing? How can we know the crimes, have evidence, and these people are still walking around and drinking champagne at birthday parties? And where is Giles Mutsekwa and why is he so silent? Isn’t he supposed to be sharing the ministry that controls the police?