Front Line is deeply concerned following the abduction and torture of human rights defenders and student activists, Beloved Chiweshe and Munjodzi Mutandiri, on 26 June 2007

Beloved Chiweshe is the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), and Munjodzi Mutandiri, is the former Students Union President of Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).

On 26 June 2007, Beloved Chiweshe and Munjodzi Mutandiri were en route to Southerton when police diverted the vehicle they were travelling in and forced them to drive to Southerton Police Station. On arrival at the police station they were identified as wanted individuals. The two men were then put into a pick-up truck and driven to a small sewer discharge river, where they were tortured by the police. They were forced to drink the contaminated sewerage water, and to do 83 press-ups for “President Mugabe's age” and 27 for “Zimbabwe's sovereignty”.

Munjodzi Mutandiri collapsed as a result of the torture. The police then took Beloved Chiweshe and Munjodzi Mutandiri's belongings, including their jackets, shoes, mobile phones, wallets and cash. The police then drove off and left the two student leaders in the sewerage river.

During their arrest they were questioned about a number of human rights defenders including the whereabouts of Otto Saki. In March 2007, Otto Saki, who is employed with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), received death threats from police for his work in providing legal expertise to human rights defenders.

Front Line believes Beloved Chiweshe and Munjodzi Mutandiri were targeted due to their legitimate peaceful activities in defence of human rights, in particular their activities in defence of the freedoms of expression and association.

Front Line urges the Zimbabwean authorities to carry out an immediate, investigation into the abduction and alleged torture of Beloved Chiweshe and Munjodzi Mutandiri. Front Line also calls on the authoriities to guarantee in all circumstances the protection and security of Beloved Chiweshe, Munjodzi Mutandiri and Otto Saki.