lodged with the ZHRC on 30 May 2017 and the field investigation was
conducted from the 25th to the 27th of June 2017.
2.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVESTIGATION
2.1. Complainant alleges that around 9 March 2017, villagers in her village
demolished a church structure constructed by Morning Glory Church in
their area. Around 12 March 2017, complainant and another villager were
taken by police officers who included Constable Dzimano for questioning
at Chinyika Police Base. They were released the same day. On 2 April
2017, two police officers, Constables Dzimano and Mlumbwa went to
complainant’s homestead intending to arrest her. She asked why they
were taking only her yet the structure was demolished by the whole
village. Constable Dzimano then forcefully grabbed her left hand and
handcuffed her, injuring her hand in the process. She protested to the
handcuffing arguing that her religion ( Mwazha Christian Apostolic Faith)
did not allow her to be handcuffed and that she was agreeing to go with
them to the police station as they did on the first day of arrest but
Constable Dzimano ignored her and started dragging her further injuring
her in the process. Her blind mother who was sitting by the wall outside
the hut asked what was going on and complainant told her that she was
going to the police base. Complainant asked to change her clothes since
she was menstruating and to take her tablets for chest pains but
Constable Dzimano ignored her and continued to drag her.
2.2. On their way to the police base Constable Dzimano instructed her to
run in front of the bicycles the officers were cycling but she refused. When
the officers were deviating from the route she knew to the police base she
asked where they were going but Constable Dzimano told her that she
would do what he wanted. She refused to go their way because she
feared for her life since there were no other people with them and because
of the attitude of Constable Dzimano. Constable Dzimano tried to force
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