via I was brutalised by cops: MLF leader 22/01/2014 NewZimbabwe
CHARLES Thomas, one of the Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) leaders facing treason charges, has told a High Court judge that he was brutally assaulted by police as they tried to force information from him.
“For more than two hours I was severely assaulted by police officers at Entumbane Police Station who interrogated me about MLF. They only stopped when my wife arrived at the charge office to see me,” Thomas told Justice Nicholas Ndou on Wednesday.
“Detectives from Law and Order section came to pick me and I was tied to a beam on the back of a truck as they drove to Bulawayo Central Police Station where I was subjected to further beating until my face was swollen and I started bleeding from the mouth.
“I told them I was on medication but they denied me access to my tablets for four days despite the fact that my wife had brought them to the police station until a magistrate ordered that I be taken to hospital.”
Thomas also alleged that police forced him to drink volumes of water which they would take turns to bring in five-litre containers as part of the torture.
The prosecution team of Lovack Masuku and Samuel Pedzisayi insist that Thomas was seen by detectives distributing anti-government fliers but he denied saying “they were liars.”
Thomas’ lawyers Advocate Lucas Nkomo assisted by Robert Ndlovu maintain that he never tried to provoke mutiny or street protests to overthrow the government.
Another MLF leader John Gazi was acquitted in December while their leader Paul Siwela is in self-imposed exile, believed to be Sweden.
It is alleged that between March 1 and 3, 2011, the MLF leaders acted in common purpose and conspired to incite Zimbabweans to rise against the government.
Police alleged that Thomas distributed fliers which contained messages calling on members of the public and the army to rise against the government.
COMMENTS
What is this stupid Mthwakazi party , shut up , go back to MDC T , i am from Mt South but this is the nonsense that i will never vote for, let the police punish them .
You Not from Mat South stupid Liar!
@Khaya’bonina
You are an idiot. The constitution of Zim allows for different political views, it also allows for a variety of political parties as part of democracy. Who said you should vote for them; did they ask you to vote for them?
Besides, this is why we have courts to pass judgements on the basis of evidence presented; what evidence do you have to prove the police and the prosecution are telling the truth? They might very well be lying, how do you know.
Besides, there is nothing wrong with distributing fliers or campaign material to win people to your views. What matters is what the fliers were saying. If they were treasonous, then Thomas and other MLF leaders have a case to answer; but if they were merely pursuading the public towards their views of a separate state through democratic means – there is nothing wrong with that.
You are a piece of unsophisticated primitive political shiit. Keep quiet if you do not understand politics or democracy. The leaders of Scottish parties campaign for seccession in the UK have never been arrested for their cause. Instead they are engaged with. Thats sophisticated politics; thats democracy. Not you bush, backward gukurawundi sledgehammer politics – asssshooles!!
What have you got to fear Zanu. Let Thomas go free and put your own skunks in jail.
There is nothing wrong with seccession politics through democratic means; nothing at all. The gukurawundi mentality of forcing everyone to think alike or share the same views about governance is what is wrong!!!!
His warped idea of wanting to destroy the fabric of our beloved MUNHUMUTAPA EMPIRE is what we do not want and will never tolerate! These mlf loose canons must not clamour for war because when it starts they will be the first to hide,look at Siwela. He has already run away leaving others in dip trouble. He should have stayed and explain what exactly he wants to achieve despite the charges. Its his project so he must defend himself like the Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai did the time he was charged with treason. Not to start a fight then run away leaving others fighting. Coward! Mthwakazi will never see the light of day because of its dubious objective!
gutu, assshoole, what MUTAPA EMPIRE are you talking about? Go hang, this is OUR MTHWAKAZI.
Whites colonised Mashonaland first for a reason. It was only later, after controlling Mashonaland that they turned their attention to our Mthwakazi, engaging our King Lobhengula.
Forget bout your Mutapa. We talking Mthwakazi here!!
The huge surge in secessionist parties in Matabeleland is indicative of the level of hurt, anger, betrayal, hopelessness and frustration that the average person on the street feels.
People are fearful and wallow in abject poverty. They have suffered for decades and will continue to suffer. If anyone doesn’t believe me, please go to Matabeleland and just TALK to a few people. What is happening is not right people.
For the love of God, just let them go if they want to! You have made your point. What more can you do to them? Enslave them? Put them in gas chambers????