MDCA's Mamombe Sues Govt For Damaging Her Dignity
MDC Alliance’s legislator for Harare West, Joana Mamombe has sued the government and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for damaging her dignity after her pictures taken as evidence in a criminal investigation were circulated on social media.
The pictures were taken last year when Mamombe and her colleagues, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were admitted at Parktown hospital after they had been allegedly abducted, sexually violated, and tortured by suspected state agents.
Chief superintendent Phillip reportedly took photos of Mamombe on May 15 purportedly as part of gathering evidence, telling Mamombe to “remove clothing to expose the various sections of the body so she would capture them.”
The pictures later made rounds on social media and Mamombe through her lawyers, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), claims that leaking of the pictures by one of the defendants, chief superintendent Phillip, had a damaging effect on her dignity. Mamombe’s lawyers argued:
As a direct consequence of the sensitive photographs being unlawfully circulated on various social media platforms, the plaintiff’s dignity was impaired.
The circulation of the plaintiff’s sensitive photographs was made without reasonable grounds and therefore negligent, malicious and unlawful.
Mamombe is demanding ZW$10 million from the Zimbabwean government and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
More: Nehanda Radio
