The following description of arrest, detention and trial under martial law was given exclusively to IDAF by the person concerned. She left Rhodesia after the events described occurred. Her story is published here in view of its importance as one of the few available accounts of conditions in the martial law areas. This is a personal account; the events described were never reported in the press - the source normally used by FOCUS.
The police were threatening that they were going to shoot me because my husband was an enemy of the government. They said if I was not killed I would be detained for life.
Early in 1979 things got worse. My husband was no longer able to come home. The security forces threatened to shoot him. In February early in the morning the security forces surrounded the business premises with guns. They ordered me out and all the workers. We were put into a truck and carried to a detention centre in the TTL.
The detention centre consisted of a number of small buildings surrounded by a fence. There were about 100 other detainees, women, girls, boys and men. We were put into a small room about 12 feet square without windows, containing 30-40 other women. We were without blankets, without food. There was no water to wash. The toilet was a hole outside.
We were detained under the martial law regulations. They accused me of feeding freedom fighters, and of failing to report the presence of freedom fighters. They pointed out that I was able to move around the area freely whereas the security forces could not.
The rooms were so crowded at the detention centre that you could not stretch your legs. You could not lie down to sleep but just had to sit up day and night. You could not change your clothes nor wash.
Food was cooked in a common dirty pot. The mealie meal that was used was mixed with stones and dirt. We were given one meal a day. During the night all the young girls were taken by the police. They were beaten every day.
They were raped every day. They were forced to accept that they were cooking for freedom fighters. The security forces openly said that if the "boys" raped them, why should they not do the same. There were both black and white members of the security forces at the detention centre, which was also a rest camp for the security forces.
We were forced to run every morning. Some were fainting. After running we would be interrogated once more. The interrogation was carried out by black troops.
Every day we would wash, cook and collect firewood for the security forces. The men detainees were digging holes and carrying stones on their heads. They were clearing the place, taking off the trees and putting in fences. The security forces wanted to make the place clear so that they could see anyone moving in the neighbourhood.
After three weeks I was transferred to a small town, the centre of the TTL. My workers stayed behind in the detention centre. Our shop and business were left open. We lost all during that time.
In the town I was kept in a cell to myself in the police station, still under the martial law. There were no windows. I was given food through a tiny window. Each morning I was forced to repeat a statement in which I admitted all the charges. They told me if I should deny they would kill me straight away. Every morning I was reciting the statement. The black police hit me. I could see the security forces beating others. My husband was not allowed to see me. I was not allowed to speak to anybody. I was not allowed to speak to any lawyer.
In March, more than a month after my arrest, I was told that I was going to attend my court martial. I was told that all my five workers were going to accuse me, and three other state witnesses. I believed it because I had already seen some cases like this before. I know that they force matters. I was taken in a landrover for about 80 miles by the Member-in-Charge.
The court martial was held in the District Commissioner's office. My husband, who had managed to find out where my trial was being held, came to me as the police were guarding me. He firmly said: "Be strong. Don't be afraid. I will take care of the children. You will join hundreds of other innocent women".
The trial was in camera. There were 10 security force officers on the bench, including four white farmers. They were wearing uniform. A defence lawyer came into the room but he was told to go out. I saw him but we never talked. The president and the other members of the court martial were sitting on a bench with a table in front of them. I was with a policeman and the Member-in-Charge. I was not feeling well so I was told to sit down. My husband was allowed to come in but he was not allowed to say anything.
The Member-in-Charge presented the case against me. I was accused of aiding freedom fighters. I was accused of failing to report their presence and that I was able to move freely in the area whereas the security forces could not. The witnesses were brought in one at a time. All the witnesses declared that they were forced to allege that I was feeding and failing to report the presence of the freedom fighters. They all claimed my innocence. The people on the bench just sat listening. The court went on all day from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 to 4 pm. The Member-in-Charge tried to persuade the witnesses to accuse me but all was in vain. All the witnesses claimed that they were told that I would be gaoled for life and also that my husband would be detained and there would be no one to revenge on behalf of us.
Afterwards the members on the bench went into a private room to discuss. I was able to ask the witnesses questions, but the bench did not ask me any questions. The witnesses said that they had been beaten up. The bench were blaming the Member-in-Charge and the police because it was clear that the witnesses had been forced to make statements. The Member-in-Charge said it was not his fault because two other policemen had brought the case forward from the detention centre, and he had not been involved in preparing the statements. Eventually I was simply dismissed and told to go back. I was allowed to join my husband and go back home.
Later the security forces came to our shop. They told me: "We can shoot you and we can do what we want". They came behind the counter and took what they wanted. We closed the shop and moved away.
