By Staff Reporter
HARARE — Four youths who attended the ZimSport for Economic Development (ZimSport4ED) sports gala in Churu Constituency, Harare South, on Saturday have alleged that they were assaulted by anti-riot police officers.
Anti-riot police officers had been deployed to disperse participants after senior Zanu PF provincial officials reportedly ordered the cancellation of the event.
According to the youths, whose identities have been withheld by Newshour to protect them from possible victimisation, they suffered injuries after being beaten by baton-wielding police officers as hundreds of participants were forced to leave Centurbury Primary School.
The sports gala was expected to attract more than 10,000 young people from across Harare.
However, it was abruptly halted following instructions allegedly issued by Zanu PF Harare provincial leaders, prompting the deployment of anti-riot police from the Police General Headquarters Support Unit.
The four youths said they have not reported the matter to the police, fearing reprisals because the alleged perpetrators were police officers themselves.
“We are afraid to make a report because it was the police who assaulted us. If we go and report, we fear that we may be targeted or victimised,” one of the victims told Newshour.
According to the youths, the violence erupted as officers descended on the crowds ordering people to the venue immediately.
One youth said he was struck repeatedly on his back and legs after attempting to retrieve sports equipment that had been left near one of the playing fields.
“I was not resisting. I was simply trying to collect our footballs and bibs when one officer shouted at me to leave. Before I could explain, he hit me with a baton on my back and then on my legs. I fell down and they continued shouting at us to move,” he said.
Another victim said he was assaulted while trying to assist younger children who were caught in the confusion as participants scrambled to leave the school grounds.
“There were small children crying and running in different directions. I was trying to help them get through the crowd when police officers approached us.
“One of them struck me on the shoulder and another hit me on the arm with a baton. I could not understand why they were beating people who were already leaving,” he said.
A third youth described scenes of panic as police officers advanced towards groups of participants.
“People started running when they saw the police moving towards us. Some officers were swinging batons and telling everyone to get out. I was hit on the side of my body while trying to leave. It happened very quickly,” he said.
The fourth victim said he sustained bruises after being struck while standing near the school’s perimeter fence.
“Several police officers came charging towards us.
“One officer hit me on my thigh and another pushed me. I still have pain from the injuries,” he said.
The allegations come amid growing criticism over the decision to halt the youth sports programme, which organisers had promoted as a platform for talent identification, youth empowerment and anti-drug abuse campaigns.
Parents and community members who attended the event previously expressed concern that the cancellation deprived young people of a constructive recreational activity at a time when communities are battling rising levels of drug and substance abuse.
The aborted tournament had been expected to attract more than 10,000 youths from across Harare and featured football, netball, volleyball, basketball and other sporting disciplines.
Questions are also likely to be raised about the use of anti-riot police against a gathering that largely consisted of children, youths, and community members attending a sporting event.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi did not immediately respond to the questions regarding the allegations of assault and the deployment of police at the time of publication.
