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Appendix 1
ZADHR
ZIMBAWBE ASSOCIATION OF DOCTORS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
4 October 2006
Press Statement
NATURE OF INJURIES OF TORTURED ZCTU MEMBERS
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) states that the medically
confirmed and documented pattern of injuries sustained by the Harare and Chitungwiza ZCTU
members who were arrested on 13 September 2006 and detained in police custody until 15
September 2006 is consistent with the testimony given by the ZCTU members themselves.
This is, that these were injuries consistent with beatings with blunt objects, heavy enough to
cause fractures (9 fractures in 7 individuals) to hands and arms and severe and multiple soft
tissue injuries to the backs of the head, shoulders, arms, buttocks and thighs (29 individuals).
Soft tissue injuries to the soles of the feet (8 individuals), are also consistent with beatings, and
correspond to the torture method called Falanga, which can leave a torture victim having
difficulty with normal walking for the rest of his or her life.
The Medical examinations of the arrested ZCTU members showed NO skin abrasions. Abrasions
would necessarily result from the shearing forces associated with falling from a moving vehicle.
------------------------Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights
6th Floor, Beverly Court, 100 Nelson Mandela Ave
PO Box CY 2415, Causeway
Harare
Tel: 708118, 251468
Fax: 705641
Cell: 091260380/ 091221887
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. Only bruises on the soles of their feet.
The use of Falanga by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
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