her by pulling her with handcuffs whilst dragging her on the grass but she
resisted.
2.3. She was injured in the process and her hands got swollen. Constable
Dzimano then started squeezing her nipples and hips and fondling her
body. He tied her to a pole on the school fence of Nyamandi High School.
Whilst tied to the pole from around 0700 hours to around 1400hrs she was
exposed to the sun and had no access to ablution facilities.
2.4. Her cousin, Timothy Masuka who heard her cries whilst she was
being dragged by the police went to the scene but by the time he arrived
complainant was handcuffed to the pole but the police officers had left. He
then called other villagers who waited for the police officers to come and
asked them why they had tied her. Constable Dzimano then asked for
forgiveness but complainant refused to accept the apology.
2.5. Complainant did not report the matter anywhere but police officers
from Bhasera Police Station went to her homestead to investigate the
matter. She was interviewed by a Chief Inspector and Sergeant Kuchera
which led to the arrest of Constable Dzimano. The matter is pending
before Gutu Magistrates Court. It was set down for 15 May 2017 but trial
could not commence because complainant’s witnesses had no transport
fares to travel to Court.
3.
MANDATE OF THE COMMISSION
3.1
The ZHRC is established as an Independent Commission in terms of
Section 242 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The functions of the ZHRC
are set out in Section 243 (1) (a)–(k) and include among others; to
promote awareness of and respect for human rights and freedoms at all
levels of society; to promote the protection, development and attainment
of human rights and freedoms; to receive and consider complaints from
the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it
considers appropriate; and to investigate the conduct of any authority or
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