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MDC activists ‘abused’ in custody

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Two female MDC activists who were arrested along with their 11 male counterparts in Tsholotsho on Monday for holding door-to-door campaigns have complained that they were made to remove their underwear by police before being taken to cells. One of the activists, Rhoda Ncube, who is a councillor in the Tsholotsho Rural District Council, said […]

Two female MDC activists who were arrested along with their 11 male counterparts in Tsholotsho on Monday for holding door-to-door campaigns have complained that they were made to remove their underwear by police before being taken to cells.

One of the activists, Rhoda Ncube, who is a councillor in the Tsholotsho Rural District Council, said she was shocked to learn that they were supposed to take off their underwear.

“It was shocking and humiliating at the same time. I am lucky that I had a skin tight that I remained with, but I was made to take off the panties,” she said.

“They also demanded that we take off our brassieres saying we would use the garments to harm ourselves but this was the first time we were hearing such a thing. We felt violated and embarrassed at the same time.”

Ncube said they were most embarrassed because “when we were told that we were supposed to take off our underwear, male police officers were present”.

“When we took them off they were not there, but the mere fact that such an issue was raised in front of male officers was demeaning,” she said.

But police national spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri said it was unusual for suspects to be forced to take off their undergarments. The 13 were released on Tuesday without any charges laid against them.