Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance Activist Lengwani Mavhunga, arrested last week claims he sustained facial burns when suspected State security agents sprayed him with a substance that looked like sulphuric acid while in police custody.

Mavhunga made the claim during the bail application at Parirenyatwa hospital on Saturday.

Mavhunga was arrested alongside Munyaradzi Mafararikwa at Copacabana bus terminal in the Harare CBD soon after attending party vice-chairperson Job Sikhala’s trial, for allegedly obstructing the free traffic movement.

Both the two claimed they were tortured while in police holding cells.

The lawyer representing the two, Webster Jiti told the court that his clients were severely injured and must be released unconditionally.

Jiti further told the court that the police officers, who accompanied the duo to the hospital, initially refused to remove handcuffs to allow medical doctors to examine their injuries, but only co-operated after hospital staff protested.

Mavhunga and Mafararikwa were remanded at their hospital beds under prison guards to Tuesday, 20 April, for bail ruling.

It is alleged that on 15 April, the duo and their other colleagues, who are still at large, disturbed the flow of traffic at Copacabana after they dumped garbage in the middle of the road, leading to their arrest.