Commemoration of June 26- United Nations Day Against Torture

Survivors gathered at the White House in Washington DC on Saturday to commemorate the United Nations Day Against Torture. The event was hosted by the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC International). Mr Mutama gave a testimony of his torture ordeal at the hands of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in 2003 when he was arrested alongside former Member of Parliament, Job Sikhala, and human rights lawyer, Gabriel Shumba. The event was characterized by a mock jail cell, testimonies from survivors, lighting of candles in remembrance of those who suffered the ordeal, poetry, music and a 24 hour vigil outside the White House at Lafayette Park. Mr Mutama recorded the names of some Zimbabwean survivors of torture on the wall of remembrance and one of the most prominent was of Tonderai Ndira who was abducted and tortured to death by ruling ZANU PF militias after the March 29 joint Council, Parliamentary, Senatorial and Presidential elections in Zimbabwe.