Kazembe Pays Police Assault Victim To Avoid Imprisonment
Home Affairs minister, Kazembe Kazembe avoided spending 60 days in prison by paying ZW$199 500 as compensation to Gweru-based student who was illegally arrested and brutally assaulted by police in 2018.
The student, Simon Mandoza dragged Kazembe to court where Harare Magistrate Tilda Mazhande gave the minister an ultimatum to pay the money or be sentenced to serve 60 days in prison.
Mandoza’s lawyers Fiona Iliff and Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) were notified by a legal advisor in Kazembe’s ministry only identified as P. Madziviridze through a letter that payment had been effected. Reads the letter:
Reference is made to your letter dated October 8 2020 in which you requested the payment of a judgement debt amounting to ZWL$199 500. Please be advised that the payment has been effected and we have hereto attached the proof of payment.
Mandoza had sued Kazembe and ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga after some police officers arrested him while he was standing outside a fast food outlet in Harare CBD.
The officers were carrying out an operation against informal traders in the CBD during the same period. Mandoza was arrested, assaulted before he was taken to Harare Central Police Station where he was finally released without charge.
More: NewZimbabwe
