and placed boulders on the roads so they could stop people from going to
work on the 4th of July 2016. The police had intervened by ensuring that
roads were opened. He heard also heard that one police officer had been
wounded who was rushed to Chitungwiza Hospital and this he had
knowledge of because the police had asked for the Council Ambulance.
He went on to highlight that according to his knowledge the incident had not
happened in Epworth but in Harare as the place where he had heard that
the incident had occurred was not under Epworth Local Board but under
Harare City Council so Harare City Council was in a better position to
comment on the issue. He hinted that Komboniyatsva or Balancing Rocks
is an area that does not fall under Epworth Local Board but rather under
Harare City Council. He went on to say that even the Councilor for the
compound falls under Harare City Council. He distanced himself from the
habitants of Komboniyatsva which he said was an illegal settlement made
up of very violent people who were not part of “them” and as such they were
tarnishing the image of Epworth.
8.8
Efforts were made to secure an interview with the District Administrator for
Epworth. She however informed that she is not in a position to comment on
the incident and referred ZHRC to the Provincial Administrator or the Police
Spokesperson since it is a matter involving the police.
8.9
A councillor from Budiriro 5 pointed out that on the 4 th of July he was at his
home in Budiriro. He heard that the police were rounding up and beating
men allegedly for blocking the roads with stones and burning tires in protest
against multiple police roadblocks. The councillor said on the day in
question he stayed indoors at his house as way of avoiding being accused
of inciting violence. He noted that the police employed a dragnet style to
round up men, some of whom were going about their businesses like
carpenters and vendors. Men were assaulted regardless of their political
affiliation. There was heavy police presence in Budiriro on that day and
about eight (8) men were arrested, they appeared at Rotten Row
Magistrates’ court the following day and were granted $100 bail each. He
noted that he took an active role as the councillor in referring the victims of
torture to CSU for assistance.
8.10
The Member of Parliament for Budiriro pointed out that on the 4th of July
2016 he received complaints from several people in his constituency
indicating that police officers were moving around in Budiriro and beating
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