The trial of three police officers accused of brutally assaulting schoolchildren at Mahetshe Primary School in Maphisa, Matobo District, earlier this year opened on Tuesday at the Kezi Magistrates’ Court, drawing parents, community leaders and rights defenders demanding justice. The officers face charges of assault under Section 89 (1), paragraph 8 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, after they allegedly beat scores of pupils during a 21 May “crime awareness campaign” at the school. The incident left several children injured, sparking outrage across Matabeleland South.
However, the three police officers pleaded not guilty, denying that they assaulted the learners. The case is being heard before Magistrate Busani Sibanda, with Prosecutor Nkosi Nzima representing the state. The accused officers are represented by lawyer Taboka Nyathi, while the children’s parents are being assisted by the Christian Legal Society.
Although proceedings were scheduled to start at 8am, the trial only began after 11am, with child witnesses taking the stand. The children were expected to testify on camera, or have their statements recorded, but the court lacked the necessary equipment. As a result, the gallery was cleared and journalists ordered out, leaving only court officials, lawyers and parents as the children were called in one by one.
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Teachers from Mahetshe Primary School were also present after receiving summons, while District Schools Inspector Nicho Moyo waited outside as proceedings continued behind closed doors. Outside the court, parents voiced concern over what they described as intimidating lines of questioning. “They are asking these young ones more than 15 questions each,” said one parent, speaking alongside other guardians and Village Head Shakespeare Ndlovu.
“They asked if the children saw the doctor who wrote the medical reports, as if to suggest we fabricated evidence. They asked when the child was last beaten at home, trying to imply the scars came from parents, not the police.” Some parents alleged that questions even touched on tribal issues.
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Source: CITE
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