Former Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe Ignatius Chombo, who was previously taken into custody by the military, was handed over to the police. This was reported by the Reuters agency referring to a relative of the politician.

According to him, during the military detention the ex-minister was severely beaten. A representative of law enforcement agencies of the country Charity Charamba stated that she does not have such information.

In addition, according to the agency, the lawyer of the ex-minister informed that Ignatius Chombo was taken to the hospital in Harare. As the lawyer said, Chombo was taken to a medical institution with injuries on his hands, back and legs. The military allegedly kept the ex-minister in custody blindfolds and applied force towards him.

According to Reuters, Chombo was an ally of 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe Grace’s wife. She was the main political rival of the former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose removal from his post on November 6 prompted the military to take decisive action, Tass reports.

On November 21, Robert Mugabe, who ruled the country for 37 years, announced his resignation. This happened last week, after the Zimbabwean military blocked the roads to government buildings and parliament, took control of television and placed the politician under house arrest.