Harare - Shocking scenes of Zimbabwe police violence confirmed as genuine by independent sources made their way on to many social media and news sites over the weekend.
This comes as lawyers say almost 300 people, including juveniles, were detained since unrest began at the South African border with Zimbabwe at the beginning of the month.
The police violence - in particular, one known as falanga (beating of the soles of feet) - was recorded in Epworth, an extremely poor suburb south-east of Harare.
In this minutes-long video, a woman can be seen and heard crying in pain as riot police smash the soles of her feet in front of her infant. Others nearby can be heard whimpering as the woman endures excruciating pain.
WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE
Lawyers in Harare and other violence monitors have confirmed the incident was filmed when police went to break up a group of people in Epworth where there had been anti-government demonstrations days earlier.
One human rights activist said he would send the UN the footage of the Epworth police violence.
“Zimbabwe police have disgraced themselves, again. And the UN should not use them any more,” she said.
Falanga was a torture by pro-Zanu-PF security officials, mostly around election time from 2000. Several opposition activists have been disabled by falanga.
Political violence eased after Zimbabwe embraced an inclusive government in 2009 and only isolated cases have been reported since then.
But now the political world has changed, rights activists say, because Zimbabwe has run out of money.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, ZLHR, is involved in securing release for most of those arrested.
“The problem we have is that because of high unemployment and cash shortages, it has become increasingly difficult for persons granted bail to pay it,” said Tinashe Mundawarara, manager of special projects at ZLHR.
Lack of cash and food in police cells are just two problems faced by those arrested.
The border violence began after Zimbabwe issued import permits ending free trade between the two countries. Zimbabwe is highly dependent on South African goods since its own manufacturing and agricultural sectors collapsed.
The state has not opposed bail for any of those arrested as magistrates say they are unemployed and without the resources to flee. At least four juveniles were released without having to pay bail.
The government is so short of money it has been paying public salaries late all year. In the past two months, even soldiers (always paid first) received pay several days late.
Last week, teachers, nurses and some other civil servants went on a two-day strike in protest at the late delivery of their June salaries. They have since been paid, union officials say.
Most banks, including South African and British banks in Zimbabwe, do not have enough cash to pay depositors, and all put limits on withdrawals.
Most regular South African exporters to Zimbabwe say they have not been paid for recent deliveries and will not allow any more goods to leave for the Beit Bridge border post until payments are resumed.
One of the reasons for the stay-away last week and protests by commuters was the never-ending roadblocks on most public roads.
Police stop taxis and fine them for the smallest infringements and sometimes on wrong charges, but the drivers do not have time or resources to challenge the accusations in court, and are forced to pay about R300, sometimes two or three times a day. The fines became so intrusive, some taxi drivers and commuters rebelled and there were open fights and stone throwing in the east of the city last week.
Motorists between Harare and Bulawayo regularly report they have to endure up to 20 roadblocks on the 430km journey.
Police told domestic media they had to extract money from those using roads to keep the force operational and because they say they are underpaid.
After all the arrests last week, analysts predict organisers of last Wednesday’s stay-away, called for by #ThisFlag social media, may find they have to abandon another this week as several organisers were arrested. One spent the weekend in cold, filthy, food-free police cells because his bail could not be organised before courts closed on Saturday.
#ThisFlag organiser Pastor Evan Mawarire spent Tuesday night in police cells after officers searched his house, church and office in the capital Harare as part of their investigations.
Mawarire was due to appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of inciting public violence, his lawyer said.
“He will appear in the magistrate’s court today (on Wednesday) at 8.30am,” his lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, said.
After his arrest, Mawarire supporters released a pre-recorded video urging Zimbabweans to stage another stay-away protest on Wednesday, although the early signs were that most people had not heeded the call.
Queues built up as normal at bus and taxi ranks to ferry people to work in the capital, while most businesses, including banks, were open.
Teachers reported for duty at most public schools, which are conducting mid-year examinations, while nurses and doctors were at work at state-run hospitals, according to Reuters reporters.
Meanwhile Rights body Amnesty International has lambasted Zimbabwe's government over the arrest of Mawarire.
“The arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire appears to be a well calculated plan to intimidate him and other activists ahead of the national shutdown organised for tomorrow in an attempt to supress the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Southern Africa, said.
“Instead of suppressing dissenting voices, Zimbabwean authorities should be listening to protesters like Evan Mawarire. They have a right under Zimbabwe's constitution and international treaties ratified by Zimbabwe to express themselves, peacefully protest and defend their rights.”
Independent Foreign Service, Reuters and African News Agency