Extensive evidence has been received by the International Defence and Aid Fund that members of the security forces in Rhodesia are continuing to use torture as a means of eliciting "confessions" from political suspects. The evidence, in the form of petitions for clemency compiled from defendants by lawyers inside Rhodesia, casts a revealing light on conditions inside the martial law areas which now cover most of the country. It also raises serious questions as to whether the Rhodesian security forces as presently constituted could possibly behave in an impartial way in the event of a transitional period preceding pre-independence elections.
The evidence relates to the cases of BENCHARD and LEAVIT KATUMBA, aged 19 and 16, BIBO CHITSEDZA (16), and DUSTER KATANHA (15). These four teenagers, all of whom were arrested by the security forces at the end of May/ beginning of June on suspicion of assisting guerillas and carrying arms of war, were variously beaten up with gun butts, leather thongs and rubber cudgels; had their heads repeatedly ducked under water — the simulated drowning technique; were given electric shock torture on their ears and genitals; confined in leg shackles and left without food.
BENCHARD (19) and LEAVIT KATUMBA (16), two brothers from the Sipolilo district, were arrested on 1 June while at work at their deceased father's grinding mill. They were accused of being "mujibhas" (guerilla collaborators), providing food to guerillas and having undergone guerilla training. After four weeks of sustained ill-treatment and torture while in detention at various police stations and security force camps, they were both sentenced to death by a special court martial at Sipolilo, on conviction of possessing arms of war. (See FOCUS 24, p. 10)
What is particularly disturbing about this case is that both boys were convicted on the basis of "confessions" elicited by force, and that there was no direct evidence against either of them. On entering the court martial, they were warned against going back on their statements, on pain of being tortured further. Extensive extracts from both petitions presented to the regime's President are given below.
The case of the Katumba brothers attracted considerable campaigning activity in Britain by anti-apartheid groups, coinciding with the first weeks of the Lancaster House talks on a Rhodesian settlement. Representations were made to the British government by IDAF. At the end of September, it was learnt that the death sentence against Benchard Katumba had been commuted to 15 years imprisonment and 12 cuts with a whip. There is no news, however, of the fate of his younger brother Leavit. Both were being held in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison outside Salisbury.
BIBO CHITSEDZA (16) and DUSTER KATANHA (15), also from the Sipolilo area, were arrested with other local people on 29 May. (The Katumba brothers were also arrested briefly at this time). They eventually "confessed" to assisting guerillas and were sentenced to life imprisonment with 12 cuts at a special court martial at Sipolilo. (See FOCUS 24 p. 10)
On petitioning the President, Duster Katanha's sentence was reduced from life imprisonment to 15 years and 12 cuts. Bibo Chitsedza's sentence was confirmed, however. Extracts from both their petitions are reproduced below.
