HARARE – The Harare Civil Magistrate Court on Wednesday ordered defence minister Oppah Muchinguri and Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander Lieutenant-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe to pay ZiG 41,632 (US$2,497) in damages to Harare resident Muchademba Muponde.
Muponde was brutally assaulted by armed forces during anti-government protests in 2019. The protests were triggered by a unilateral hike in fuel prices and declining living standards.
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Magistrate Tamara Chibindi ruled that of the total compensation, ZiG 20,816 will cover damages for pain, suffering, trauma, and nervous shock endured by Muponde, while the remaining ZiG 20,816 will account for affront to dignity, humiliation, and embarrassment.
In addition to the compensation, Muchinguri and Sanyatwe were ordered to pay interest on the total amount of damages from 2019 until the date of payment.
During the 2019 protests, Muponde was assaulted by soldiers while accompanying his grandfather to a shopping centre in Harare. A soldier chased Muponde, caught him, and assaulted him using the back of a firearm.
Muponde sustained serious injuries, including internal injuries on his left leg, and was unable to walk. The soldier only stopped the assault after seeing the severity of Muponde’s injuries.
Muponde, represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), sued Muchinguri and Sanyatwe in 2019 for damages.
During the trial, which began in February 2024, Muchinguri and Sanyatwe argued that the soldiers who assaulted Muponde were under the control of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, not the ZNA Commander.
Lawyer Obey Shava praised the ruling, stating, “The Minister and ZNA attempted to blame the ZRP. The court would have none of it. This is a case of institutionalized violence against citizens. Security forces should defend and not brutalize citizens.”
