Karembera, affectionately known as Madzibaba Veshanduko,
was being represented by human rights lawyer Douglas Coltart yesterday when he
appeared before Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was
quoted by the State media saying Karembera was arrested for trying to deface
Mbuya Nehanda’s statue, an allegation which was not listed in the court papers.
But Coltart refuted the allegations, saying he was
illegally arrested and detained. He said
Karembera was actually over-detained as he was arrested on Thursday at 0830am
and attended to on Saturday at 2pm.
He said evidence provided by Karembera’s doctor Jonathan
Fernandes, who examined him at the Harare Central Police Station was that he
had fresh bruises and lacerations caused by beating.
Coltart said Fernandes revealed that Karembera was
struggling to walk due to the beating on his feet, while he had a swollen eye.
He said Karembera failed to appear in court because he was
in bad state at Parirenyatwa Hospital where he is admitted.
Karembera was arrested for wearing CCC regalia in the
Harare central business district by one Constable Manyeruke and others. They
then brutalised him.
“Nyathi is quoted saying the accused person was arrested
for attempting to deface the Mbuya Nehanda statue. There was no allegation
relating to that on the court papers and it is common cause that the accused
was more than 300 metres away from the Mbuya Nehanda statue. Nyathi lied and we
don’t know where he got that from. He wanted to create his own narrative after
the abuse of the CCC activist,” Coltart said.
Mateko postponed the matter to today for continuation of
the application challenging Karembera’s placement on remand. The complainant is
being represented by Brilliant Thembelani Nyathi.
It is alleged that on March 17 at the intersection of
Julius Nyerere Way and Nelson Mandela Avenue in Harare, the complainant was on duty and on patrol with
other police officers when they met the accused person who was dressed in a
yellow rob and chanting slogans.
The police officers advised him to stop, but he did not
heed their call and allegedly insulted them, resulting in his arrest.
It is alleged that the accused person turned violent trying
to resist arrest, but he was eventually subdued, handcuffed and taken to Harare
Central Police Station. Newsday
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