Zimbabwean man appeared in court with his bowels in his hand

A suspected motorcycle thief spent two months in remand prison with his bowels protruding from his stomach after detectives shot him as he allegedly tried to disarm them. Harare High Court was shocked on Monday when Boas Chiwanza, who was visibly in pain, limped into the courtroom with his bowels hanging out. As he held them in his palm, Justice Yunus Omerjee ordered prison authorities to immediately take Chiwanza to hospital. Chiwanza had come to apply for bail before the judge.

Detectives reportedly shot Chiwanza on his arrest on September 27, 2010 as he tried to disarm them. Chiwanza, who struggled to speak, told the court that he had not received appropriate treatment since his arrest and most of his doctors’ appointments had failed due to circumstances beyond his control. The Zimbabwe Prison Service confirmed Chiwanza was on November 2 and 9 this year taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital, but failed to see a doctor.

It was also confirmed that on October 25, there was no ambulance to take Chiwanza to the hospital. But the ZPS maintained Chiwanza was admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital on September 30 and discharged into custody on October 11. In its papers, ZPS stated that Chiwanza was getting painkillers and colostomy bags from the prison clinic.

Justice Omerjee immediately directed the officer-in-charge of Harare Remand Prison, Chief Superintendent Billiot Chibaya, to ensure Chiwanza was immediately taken to hospital. "He should be urgently treated for his protruding intestines and to be held at such hospital for that purpose. This court should be advised as to compliance with the form of this court order by relevant authorities," ordered Justice Omerjee.