Politician may have suffered skull fracture in police beating

ZIMBABWE’S main opposition leader yesterday said police beat him repeatedly in the head, back, knees and arm and he lost a lot of blood in an attack seemed intended “to inflict as much harm as they could”.

Morgan Tsvangirai, who remains hospitalised, underwent a brain scan, and his lawyer said he may have suffered a skull fracture and internal bleeding as a result of police beatings.

Mr Tsvangirai, 54, and more than 40 other opposition figures were arrested at a prayer meeting on Sunday in the latest crackdown on dissent by President Robert Mugabe’s security forces and political supporters.

Speaking from his hospital bed Mr Tsvangirai said police beat him on the head, and he suffered body blows to the knees and back, and his arm was broken. He said he “lost a lot of blood” and he was given two pints.

“I think the intent was to inflict as much harm as they could,” he said.

He is awaiting results of a scan for a suspected skull fracture, said Tafadza Mugabe, one of his lawyers.

At a brief court appearance on Tuesday, Mr Tsvangirai’s right eye was swollen shut and his head partly shaved to reveal crudely stitched gashes.

Another 34 activists were released from the private hospital in Harare early yesterday. Those freed were told to return to Harare magistrates’ court when it opened yesterday, but amid chaos no proceedings were held and the activists returned to their homes.

Beatrice Mtetwa, a lawyer for the group, said police were not in the court.

Mr Tsvangirai’s attorney Innocent Chagonda said a court order issued on Monday ordered police to charge or release opposition leaders and activists by noon on Tuesday. None was charged.

Police used tear gas, water cannon and live ammunition to crush Sunday’s gathering. One opposition activist was shot and killed.