Zimbabwean activist and recipient of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize in 2023 Namatai Kwekweza and three other activists will spend the weekend behind bars after Harare Magistrate Ruth Moyo remanded them in custody.
The other three arrested with Kwekweza are Robson Chere, Samuel Gwenzi and Vusumuzi Moyo.
The four were dragged out from a plane at the Robert Mugabe Airport on Thursday and arrested by state security agents.
They have been charged with disorderly conduct.
The four will have their bail application heard on Monday.
Their lawyer, Tinashe Chinopfukutwa says, “It’s been alleged that they were part of alleged demonstrators who demonstrated at this courtroom premise on the 27th of June 2024. We laid several complaints regarding the manner in which our clients were arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport, in relation to the torture, which they were subjected to before surrendering to the police officers.”
“The prosecution made an application that the bail application be postponed to Monday, which we were not agreeable to because we were ready to be heard on bail and we were on the court premises. They were subjected to torture in the form of physical assault, as well as mental torture, psychological torture and they also had their mobile phones forcibly taken away from them. Robson Chere is injured, we notified the court that the doctor advised him that he requires immediate hospitalisation and medical attention.”
Minister of Home Affairs, who is also responsible for police in Zimbabwe, Kazembe Kazembe says, “Let me categorically disabuse those missing misguided perception that the presence of international community in the country presents them an opportunity to inflict reputational damage on the country without consequence.”
He says, “The security cluster is aware of the secret meetings being held locally and outside the country by those seeking to unleash civil disobedience. We already know the personalities and the institutions which they front, we are also aware of those giving them logistical and financial support, we have also established their modus operandi.”