Zimbabwe: Drop all charges against CSU 3

Counselling Services Unit is a Harare-based medical clinic that provides counseling, treatment and referral to all victims of trauma and violence. They are a member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), a global network of rehabilitation centres. And on 5 November 2012, CSU found itself raided by 12 uniformed and non-uniformed police officers.

During the raid, riot police surrounded the offices, terrorizing many of the patients who were waiting for care. The officers only had a warrant for "material likely to deface any house, building, wall, fence, lamp post, gate or elevator without the consent of the owner or occupier thereof". They arrested five members of staff, a journalist and confiscated a computer with confidential patient information.

Three of the staff members, including Mr Fidelis Mudimu, who is a member of the governing Council of the IRCT, were illegally detained for three days before being released on bail. The CSU three are still facing specious charges and judicial harassment. And their computer with confidential patient information remains with the police.