Ellen Chademana and Ignatius Muhambi, employees of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), were arrested on 21 May on charges of possessing obscene material and of undermining the authority of the president. While in detention, the two were tortured by police. On 26 May, police raided the home of Chesterfield Samba, the director of GALZ, and a former council member of War Resisters International.
Ellen and Ignatius were released on 28 May, and are scheduled to stand trial in July. Ellen was given permission by a judge to attend a workshop in conflict resolution in the US in late June, returning before her trial, but a state prosecutor invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act to overrule the judge.
Topics: Human rights