Ahead of the SADC 44th Summit, the Harare regime intensified its crackdown on opposition activists, fearing widespread protests. Among those arrested was Samuel Gwenzi, a 35-year-old human rights advocate whose story sheds light on the struggles faced by activists in Zimbabwe.
On the day of his abduction, Samuel was at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, preparing to board a flight when he was suddenly confronted by security agents.
“What happened is that we were taken by unknown men just as the flight was about to take off, and they brought us to a domestic terminal that looked like a torture chamber,” narrated Gwenzi.
Samuel Gwenzi. Photocredit-Emma Zihonye
Samuel, along with three other activists, was taken into custody and held incommunicado for over ten hours. “The four of us—Namatai Kwekweza, Robson Chere, and Vusimuzi Moyo—were interrogated and tortured by these state agents,” Gwenzi recounted.
During his detention, Samuel was subjected to brutal treatment. “They used their feet, bare hands, and metal bars to beat us while interrogating us about whether we were planning a demonstration,” said Gwenzi.
Samuel Gwenzi entering Prison truck. Photocredit-Emma Zihonye
After several hours of torture and interrogation, Gwenzi and the other activists were taken to the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they spent almost a month behind bars, being denied bail.
When Gwenzi appeared in court, he was brought in leg chains, a stark contrast to the nature of his alleged offenses.
As news of his ordeal spread, support poured in from local and international human rights organizations demanding their immediate release.
Samuel Gwenzi’s journey transcends his personal ordeal; it highlights the courage to speak out and the unwavering quest for justice in a landscape marred by oppression. As he continues his fight for change, Gwenzi exemplifies that even in the darkest times, hope and resilience can prevail.
