3
Introduction
We beat prisoners beneath the foot, we are not crazy enough to hit the
whole body because that can be used against us in court.” 1
This is what a senior Zimbabwean police officer is reported to have told a South African
newspaper in an interview, thus confirming the use of torture by the ZRP.
Although torture has been seen in all three previous decades of Zimbabwe, it has become so
commonplace since 2000 that it is only when particularly repugnant episodes occur that there is
publicly expressed revulsion of it. Since its formation in 1998, the Zimbabwe Human Rights
Forum [Human Rights Forum] has issued a large number of reports about torture, urging an end
to this vile practice. Despite this torture still continues to be practised on a widespread basis in
Zimbabwe.
Falanga is unequivocally a form of torture and constitutes a serious criminal assault under
Zimbabwean law. This form of torture has become particularly prevalent in the past five years.
Although falanga has been reported in previous decades, it now appears to be very widespread
indeed, and almost routine, both inside and outside of places of detention. It is used by the
police as well as non-state actors that are supporters of the Government. It is wholly
unacceptable that this gross human right violation is even condoned by the President,2 and
unsurprising that his comments have been widely condemned. Whilst the Government continues
to deny torture, it is evident that these assertions are not supported by the medical evidence; a
statement by the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights in respect of the torture of
members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) unequivocally pointed out that 8 of
the 29 individuals examined had injuries consistent with falanga [see Appendix 1].
The police have a constitutional and professional duty to protect people against unlawful assaults
and yet members of the police force are frequently perpetrating acts of torture is documented in
this report and has also been documented in previous reports of the Human Rights Forum.3 The
evidence establishes that the practice of torture, including falanga, is not carried out by a few
1
2
3
‘We beat beneath the foot’, UN investigates the severe assault of Zimbabwean union members. Godwin Gandu. Mail &
Guardian, September 22 to 28 2006.
‘President blasts ZCTU leaders’, Itai Musengeyi, Zimbabwe Herald, 25 September 2006. The President is reported as
saying. "We cannot have a situation where people decide to sit in places not allowed and when the police remove
them, they say no. We can’t have that, that is a revolt to the system. Vamwe vaakuchema kuti takarohwa, ehe
unodashurwa. When the police say move, move. If you don’t move, you invite the police to use force”.
See Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (2003), Torture by State Agents in Zimbabwe: January 2001 to August 2002,
HARARE: ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FORUM.
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. Only bruises on the soles of their feet.
The use of Falanga by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.