Shadreck Mufute - Hartzell Primary School Headmaster

Shadreck Mufute, headmaster of Hartzell Primary School, at a school assembly in November 2006 (the student in front of him is thanking my son Christopher for his help in the computer lab).

Shadreck was apparently was one of the seven election officials in Zimbabwe who were arrested by police in April 2008 and (falsely) charged with undercounting the votes for the ruling party.

From the human rights blog This is Zimbabwe:

"On an as yet unconfirmed date one Shadreck Mufute, a ZEC [Zimbabwe Electorial Commisson] elections officer who was stationed at Ward 25 in Mutasa South was arrested in Mutare and charged with fraud under section 136(a) of the Criminal Code, alternatively contravening section 87 of the Electoral Act, as amended in that he allegedly willfully failed to perform his public duty. His warned and cautioned statement was recorded on 7 April 2008 but had not been finalized due to lack of power (ZESA) at the police station. He appeared in the Mutare Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 8 April 2008 where he was represented by a ZLHR [Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights] lawyer. The lawyer and the prosecutor initially agreed on bail, but in court the prosecutor opposed bail, advising the ZLHR lawyer that he had instructions to vehemently oppose bail due to the political sensitivity of the matter. Mufute was remanded in custody pending the handing down of the magistrates’ ruling today."

Photo by Mark Taber Copyright (c) 2008 Some Rights Reserved