Mugabe's police leave wake of 'savage' beatings

15 July 2016 - 10:04 By Reuters, AFP

A 10-year-old girl knocked out by teargas from a grenade thrown into her home. A disabled boy beaten and left unconscious at a bus stop. A 17-year-old set upon by six police dogs. The list of cases recorded by a trauma clinic is detailed and varied - men, women and children who were at the wrong place at the wrong time when Zimbabwean police cracked down on dissent this month against President Robert Mugabe."Torture, Torture, Torture, Intimidation, Torture, Torture, Intimidation, Assaulted, Torture ...", reads one column of the spreadsheet prepared by the clinic.The violence occurred during a stayaway inspired by Evan Mawarire, 39, a preacher whose call for workers to stay home in protest against corruption and economic decline amounts to the biggest challenge to Mugabe's rule in nearly a decade. Police spokesman Charity Charamba and Information Minister Chris Mushowe did not reply to messages requesting comment on the allegations of abuse.The clinic that prepared the spreadsheet redacted the names and ID numbers of victims.Frances Morris, a doctor who treated some of the victims, said the injuries were indicative of "savage" treatment.The victims, she said, were mainly civilians who were not involved in the protests. "The injuries reflect the use of uncontrolled dogs," she said.Mawarire, who says he promotes only peaceful protest, was arrested on Tuesday but released when a magistrate threw out charges of attempting to overthrow the state."Tell them that the pastor said we carry on with our stayaway and shut down," Mawarire said in a Facebook video yesterday. ..

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