I am from the Katumba Kraal, under Chief Bepura, Sipolilo District. I am 19 years old. I am not certain of the exact date of my birth. I attained a Grade 4 qualification at school in 1974. I am employed as a Grinding Mill Operator owned by my late father. I have been working at this Mill ever since I left school. My father Washayanyika Katumba is deceased. However, my mother is surviving.
I was convicted at Sipolilo before a Special Court Martial, and sentenced to death, on the basis of "confessions" that I made. These confessions were not voluntary, and listed below are the events leading up to the confessions.
On Friday 1 June 1979, I was approached by seven European members of the security forces while I was working at the Grinding Mill, at approximately 4.00 pm. One of the soldiers asked me if I was "Benchard", and I replied that I was. ... Immediately I replied, the soldier who was addressing me hit me in the face with the butt of the gun he was holding, and when I fell to the ground, I was struck in the area of my chest by another soldier. (Right from the time I was initially approached, to the time I appeared before the Special Court Martial, I was with my younger brother Leavit).
In the Mill at the time, there were buckets of unground mealie meal grain, and meal that had already been ground. The soldiers observed this, and turned to us (my brother and I) and said, "You are the ones who are grinding meal for the terrorists".
The soldiers then proceeded to tip over the buckets with the grain and meal. One of the soldiers cut the pipe leading from the fuel pump to the mill, and collected the diesel that was spilling in a bucket, and poured it over the mealie grain and meal. A match was lit, and the whole lot went up in flames.
My brother was carried on one motor bike, and I was carried on another. We were taken to Makaki Store, which I believe is approximately ten kilometres away. At the store were soldiers whom we took to be members of the Guard Force.
At this point another member of the Guard Force went to get a bucket of water, and brought it back. I was then blindfolded with my own shirt, which I had been told to take off. My hands were put behind my back, and my head was then systematically ducked into the water several times. While the soldiers were ducking my head into the water, they kept on saying, "Come on, talk, talk".
When the ducking stopped, we were handcuffed and taken to a farm known as Andersons. When we arrived at the farm, both Leavit and I were tied to the trailer of a tractor. Again at this farm, members of the Guard Force were present. Here again attempts were made to get us to admit that we were "mujibhas".
I was then led to a drum cut in half, which was filled with water. Here again my head was ducked systematically into the water, after which I was taken to a corner of the barn, where I was struck in the face with a clenched fist, causing me to fall to the ground. (To this day there is a darkened area in my face where the blow landed). While I was on the ground, I was assaulted in the area of my chest. I was then made to rise, whereupon I was searched, and a sum of $10.00 was taken from me.
(On the following day, the brothers were taken back on motorbikes by a number of European soldiers, to their home). When we arrived, the wife of my brother Kamvuuri Katumba was present. She was asked by the soldiers where the other people of the kraal had gone. Immediately she finished speaking, she was hit in the stomach twice with a gun butt. The soldiers then smashed the lock of my late father's house, which had not been interfered with since the death of my father earlier this year. The soldiers removed clothing from suitcases, scattering it around the huts and then setting it alight. The soldiers then moved on to the kitchen building, and also set it alight. They then moved on to a building we use as a store room for mealie grain and meal, and also set it alight. The soldiers went on to my brother Kamvuuri Katumba's house, and set it alight burning it down together with all the furniture that was inside.
(The brothers were taken back to Makaki store, where they were again assaulted by members of the Guard Force (who are mainly African). Later they were taken on motorbikes to Raffingora where they were handcuffed and secured in cells. Throughout the period since their arrest they had eaten nothing).
Early the next morning a European soldier approached us in the cells and asked us if we were mujibhas, to which we replied that we were not, that we had been arrested from our place of employment. I was taken outside at this point, and my brother Leavit remained inside. Leavit later came out looking as if he had been assaulted, and I was then taken back inside. Again I was asked if I was a mujibha, and again I replied that I was not, and immediately after I said this one of the soldiers in attendance attached what appeared to be terminals to each of my ears. The terminals were leading from a box. The same soldier who had attached these terminals to my ears, then turned what appeared to be a handle, and the next thing I knew, I had fallen to the ground, senseless. I was made to get up, and again I was asked if I was a mujibha, and again I replied that I was not. The same procedure was repeated, and again I found myself on the ground senseless. One of the soldiers hit me across my legs with a sort of rubber cudgel, after which the "electrical procedure" was repeated again.
(The brothers were taken to Mtoroshanga Police Station, where they were introduced as mujibhas). Our handcuffs were removed, and leg chains were substituted. We were then taken to the cells, where we spent a period of approximately two weeks. The leg chains were on our legs all this time. During this two week period, I noticed that my brother Leavit had begun to experience dizzy spells and I also noticed that his stomach was swelling. During one of the days that we were in the cells, a black soldier examined our legs which were swollen from earlier assaults, and expressed the intention of taking us to the clinic for treatment. Unfortunately the clinic was closed on that day, and nobody ever bothered to take us to the clinic when it was open.
(A further transfer took place to Sipolilo Police Station). The next day, a bespectacled African soldier approached me, took me away from the others, and said to me, "Where you are going you will die"... I was told to take off my overalls, and then I was instructed to get into a press-up position. While I was in this position I was struck across the buttocks with a short rubber cudgel. While the assault continued, these soldiers kept on saying, "Come on, talk! Come on, talk!" When (they) found that I was persisting in my denials of any involvement with terrorists, (they) moved to another electrical gadget with leads. They attached one lead to my left index finger, and the other to my testicles. One of the soldiers then appeared to operate this gadget by turning a "handle". As a result I experienced excruciating and unbearable pain in my testicles. This procedure was repeated, and I found that I could not resist the pain any longer, and I therefore made a blanket admission to being a mujibha, possessing arms of war, and anything that these soldiers put to me. If it is not already obvious, I must stress that there was no truth in these confessions. I made these confessions to avoid further pain. Unfortunately for me, the confessions were recorded, and naturally I signed as I was still in fear.
On my way to appearing before the Special Court Martial, and just before I entered the Court, I was warned by the soldiers that if I went into Court and went back on my statements, I would be taken back for more "electric treatment". This had a terrible effect on me. I was petrified, and in Court I simply admitted the charges that were put to me. As a result, I was convicted of "possessing arms of war", and sentenced to death.
None of us in Zimbabwe Rhodesia at the present time have been untouched by the war which is raging all over. I have done my best not to get involved, and I know I have succeeded. Had it not been for the torture including various assaults and "electric treatment", that I was subjected to, I would have continued to tell the truth, but every person's resistance has a limit.
I am sixteen years old, having been born in 1964. I am not certain of the exact date. I live at Katumba Kraal, under Chief Bepura, Sipolilo District. My father Washayanyika Katumba died early this year, although my mother is surviving. I attained a Grade 5 qualification in 1978, at the Mavare School, Sipolilo. Since March 1979, I have been working at the grinding mill at our kraal, owned by my late father. I work at this mill every day, and it was from here that I was arrested on 1 June 1979.
I have read the Petition of my brother Benchard, and I am able to say that his account of events from the time of our arrest to the time we appeared before the Special Courts Martial, is correct. I was with Benchard almost all of the time, although we appeared separately before the Special Courts Martial. I was assaulted in much the same manner, and times, as Benchard.... When the current was turned on from the electrical gadget from which the leads led, I found myself admitting all the accusations which were being put to me, which I had initially truthfully denied. I made these confessions when I could not longer stand the pain.
I repeat that I am not a mujibha, not a collaborator. When one considers the pain and suffering I went through as a result of the torture we were subjected to, it cannot come as a shock that I made the confessions in question.
I am sixteen years of age, and I come from the Magaya Kraal, under Chief Bepura, Sipolilo District. My father is Mutandwa Chitsedza of the same kraal, and my mother is deceased. I attained a Grade 3 qualification at school in 1977, and at present I am not employed.
I appeared before a Special Courts Martial at Sipolilo. I was convicted on the basis of confessions that I had made. I did not make these confessions voluntarily, and the following are the events leading up to these inculpatory confessions.
On 29 May 1979, I had been sent early to the garden by my uncle Peter Chitsedza, to plant some seeds for him. On my way back, I noticed nine African soldiers, who appeared to be rounding up people at the Katumba grinding mill. I was going to pass by, but I was stopped and told to sit with the others. Much later at approximately 5.00 pm, we were taken to a farm which we know as Green Heights, where we spent the night. The next day we were taken into an incomplete store building, either individually or more than one. When it was my turn to go into this building, I found one girl in there already, and I was directed to a counter. I was then asked such questions as the following: "Where do terrorists keep their guns?" "Admit you are a trained terrorist". I do not know where terrorists keep their guns, and I am certainly not a terrorist, trained or otherwise. However when I persisted in my denial, what appeared to be terminals leading from some electrical gadget, were attached to each of my ears. A soldier in attendance appeared to turn the handle, thereby causing me tremendous pain. In fact while this was being done to me I urinated in my pants, I could not control myself. I was being accused repeatedly, of having been trained as a terrorist at St. Bernards, and because of this electric treatment, I eventually admitted that I had been trained at this school. The girl I found in the building was also subjected to this electric treatment. I remember three girls, Katie Chikore, Stegin Baradzanwa and Anna Munganga were raped by three African members of the Guard Force, after the European soldiers who appeared to be in authority had gone. Later these girls asked for permission to go to the toilet, and when it was granted they took this opportunity of running away.
The next day when the European soldiers returned, they asked the three members of the Guard Force who had raped the girls, where these girls had gone, and they replied that these had run away because they were terrorists. On this day, I was again taken into the uncompleted store building, where I was accused of owning my own gun. I answered that I did not have a gun, and the soldier attending to me insisted, "You must have a gun". The electric treatment from the previous day was repeated, and again I urinated uncontrollably, and while this electric treatment was being applied to me, allegations of moving from farm to farm killing Europeans were put to me which I knew nothing of, and because of the pain I eventually admitted the allegations.
In the late afternoon we were taken to a farm we know as Dodds, where we were made to pick cotton. Later we were called from the field, and taken to the Sipolilo police station.
On the way to the Sipolilo police station, we stopped at another farm which I did not know and at this farm myself and others were assaulted with pieces of cane. We spent the night at the farm, and the next day we were transported to Sipolilo, where we were lodged in the cells. On the day following, I was taken to a separate room within the building, and again I was accused of being a terrorist. I denied that I was a terrorist, and a different electrical gadget was now used on me. This different gadget was attached to my genitals, and when it was operated, it caused me to experience unbearable pain in my genitals. In addition to this I was struck across my shoulder with a piece of leather thong usually used for spanning oxen. (The mark on my shoulder is still visible). In the circumstances, I was left with little option but to admit all the allegations that were being put to me.
Before appearing before the Special Courts Martial, I was warned by soldiers against going back on my statement. In the court the allegation put to me was that I had stayed with terrorists for seven months. I was still very scared and I admitted the charge. As a result I was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and twelve cuts.
I am not a mujibha, a collaborator, or terrorist sympathiser. I was arrested together with other people, and it is obvious that I was tortured until I made false confessions.
I am fifteen years old, and I come from the Nyandoro Kraal, under Chief Bepura, Sipolilo District. I live with my father Jakara Katanha and my mother at the above kraal. I attained a Grade 2 qualification at school in 1976, and at present I am unemployed.
On 29 May 1979, I noticed people from around our area being herded past our house by members of the security forces. As the crowd of people went past our house, my mother, my sister and myself were instructed to fall in with the others. We were all made to walk to a farm owned by a man with the following nickname, 'Chekubooka'. We spent that night in the barn at that farm, and we were given sacking to cover ourselves.
The next day nine European soldiers arrived on motorbikes. They took us either individually or more than one into an uncompleted store building. When I was taken into this building, the soldiers in attendance would say to me repeatedly, "Admit you are a terrorist. Admit you have been trained". Initially, I denied these allegations as there was no truth in them. When I continued with my denial mains were attached to each of my ears. The mains appeared to lead from a gadget that I cannot identify. When one of the soldiers in attendance operated this gadget, I experienced tremendous pain as well as much difficulty in breathing. This procedure continued until I admitted having handled a gun in the past, as well as admitting that I had been trained in the past.
Later, we were made to go to another farm where we were instructed to pick cotton: From this farm we were taken to the Sipolilo police station by truck.
On the way to the Sipolilo police station in the truck, an African soldier kept on saying to us, "Don't you dare deny what you've been admitting, otherwise you will be beaten to death".
At Sipolilo that evening, others were interrogated in a separate room, one of them being Bibo Chitsedza. I was only taken into the separate room the next day. While I was in this room, I was accused of being "one of the terrorists causing all the trouble." I denied being a terrorist, whereupon I was made to lie down, whereupon I was assaulted on the back with a leather thong, that is of the type we usually used for spanning oxon. One of the soldiers assaulted me and said," If you continue to deny, we will use that electrical equipment on you", and as he said this he indicated my genital area.
My interrogators mentioned some farm which had been subjected to a terrorist attack. I said I did not know anything about this farm, and again I was assaulted. Further, I was asked, "Do you know Makamba Farm?" I said I did. Again I was asked, "Do you know Endeavour Farm?" I said I did. I was then asked, "How do you know these farms?", and I replied that I had gone to pick cotton there in the past. My interrogators' reply to this was, "Lies, how could you work at these farms when you were carrying a gun?" The assaults continued, and eventually I admitted that I had been to the farms with a gun although there was no truth in this admission. I was asked further if I had ever seen other terrorists, and I replied that I had seen them only once, whereupon I was assaulted again, because my interrogators said, "You are going back on what you've said". Eventually I admitted that I had seen terrorists more often. Here again, I would mention that there is no truth in this admission.
I eventually appeared before the Special Courts Martial and while I was before the Court the interpreter warned me about "kupikisana ne dare" (arguing with the Court). I told this man that I had been forced to make a statement, and the interpreter advised me that the Court did not accept what I was saying. I mentioned the assault leading up to my confession, but I was advised that I was not believed. I was therefore convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment as well as twelve cuts.
I am innocent. I have not committed any offence. Initially I was ordered to fall in with other people from around our area who were being gathered together. During my interrogation I had all sorts of vague allegations being thrown at me, which I initially truthfully denied, and eventually admitted because of all the assaults, threats and intimidation being directed against me. No reliance can be placed on my confessions, on the basis of which I was convicted.
