The Editor, Sir:

The following is an email received from a friend in Zimbabwe about the arrest and treatment of his wife:

"Hi Ralph,

At 11:00 p.m. last night I managed to get to see Sekai in hospital. She has been badly injured, suffering from extensive bruising and lacerations all over her body from many hours of beatings from a team of 15 members of the CIO (secret police). She fell unconscious twice from being beaten in the head. They ended up deliberately breaking her arm and foot, then forced her to walk on the broken foot.

She is due to go into theatre today to have pins inserted to help heal the breakages, and she will also need a CAT scan to see if she has any hidden head injuries.

Sekai and the others appeared in court yesterday, in spite of the fact that many of them were badly injured. The prosecutor kept trying to delay proceedings so that they would be able to send them back to the cells for yet another night without treatment.

Finally taken to hospital

However, eventually the magistrate ordered that all defendants be taken to hospital for examination and possible treatment.

Sekai has been there ever since, along with many others of the leadership of the MDC.

In spite of the injuries and pain, Sekai was in amazingly good spirits, as she knew that they had won. She said that none of the leadership cracked under the torture, and they are all determined to continue the fight for a free Zimbabwe.

Regards, Jim"

I am, etc.,

RALPH PEARCE

Ralphgp@hotmail.com

Mandeville