Lawyer seeks journalist's release

By Torby Chimhashu

LAWYERS representing Gift Phiri -- a reporter for the Zimbabwean newspaper published from London and distributed in Zimbabwe -- say they been barred from seeing their client who is still detained by police despite an expiry of the legal detention period.

Phiri, who was heavily assaulted in police custody on Monday following his arrest on Fools Day is still in custody and police have indicated they want to apply for an extension to his detention.

Rangu Nyamurundira, Phiri's lawyer, said he has been barred from seeing the newsman.

"I have been denied access to Gift. I don't know of his condition. Those who
brought him food said he looked stressed. Police have indicated to me that they
will apply for extension of his detention," Nyamundira said.

Phiri is being charged for practising without a licence and writing falsehoods under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. He could be jailed for up to two years or fined if found guilty.

Under Zimbabwean law, police are bound to send an accused person to court at the expiry of 48 hours. A warrant for further detention which is for up to 96 hours can only be granted if police need more time to continue investigations.

Police can only hold suspects for a period up to 21 days if they have committed an economic offence as prescribed under the Evidence and Criminal Procedure Act (under Presidential Powers).

Nyamundira said he was preparing an urgent High Court application to force the
p olice to release Phiri or send him to court.

The Zimbabwean reporter was unable to sit, walk or support himself after the
assaults by detectives from the Law and Order Section on Monday evening, his lawyer earlier said.

”He was beaten on the buttocks, back and on the soles of his feet by police
using baton sticks. He told me he was forced to sign a warned and cautioned
statement in which the state is alleging he is practising journalism without
accreditation and writing falsehoods," lawyer Nyamundira said.

Phiri was arrested on Sunday afternoon while drinking with friends from the same neighbourhood at Sunningdale shopping center.

In February 2006, Phiri was waylaid on his way home and heavily assaulted by suspected state security agents using knuckle-dusters.

Phiri becomes the fourth journalist to be assaulted by police in as many weeks
following savage attacks on Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and
Tendai Musiyazviriyo.

The trio was brutally beaten by police while covering a prayer meeting by civic groups and members of the fractious opposition MDC in the poor township of Highfield on March 11.

Tamborinyoka was recently beaten and tortured, again in police custody.

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