<p>Harare Civil Court Magistrate Tamara Chibindi has convicted Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri and Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe for the brutal assault of Muchademba Muponde by soldiers in 2019.</p>
<p>According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Chibindi on Wednesday, April 10, ordered Muchinguri and Sanyatwe to pay Muponde, a Harare resident, ZiG41 633 as compensation for the ill-treatment which he endured at the hands of soldiers on 16 January 2019.</p>
<p>The soldiers had been deployed to suppress countrywide anti-government protests which were held in response to a unilateral government increase in fuel prices and worsening standards of living. The ZLHR said:</p>
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<p>Muponde was assaulted by soldiers as he accompanied his grandfather to buy a chicken at Glenview 1 Shopping Centre in Harare, where he saw a group of soldiers chasing people around and he also began to flee.</p>
<p>One of the soldiers, who was brandishing a gun, spotted him and gave chase and caught him before assaulting him on the back of his body and neck using the back of the firearm.</p>
<p>Muponde started bleeding when the soldier hit him on the back of his head and ran to hide at a nearby homestead.</p>
<p>But the soldier followed him and continued assaulting him using the back of the gun at the homestead. At one point, the soldier even lifted his gun threatening to shoot him.</p>
<p>Muponde sustained serious injuries on both legs including internal injuries on his left leg as a result of the assault and he could not walk.</p>
<p>The soldier continued beating him and only stopped after seeing the severity of the injuries sustained by Muponde and instructed him to wash the blood off his face.</p>
<p>Muponde then engaged Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who in 2019 sued Hon. Muchinguri and Sanyatwe claiming payment of damages for pain and suffering, nervous shock, contumelia, affront to dignity and humiliation.</p>
<p>During trial, which began in February 2024 at Harare Civil Magistrates Court, Hon. Muchinguri and Sanyatwe vainly argued that the soldiers, who assaulted Muponde were not under the control of the ZNA Commander but of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, as they had been deployed to assist the law enforcement agents in restoring law and order.</p>
<p>Out of the ZiG41 000, Magistrate Chibindi said ZiG20 816 will be damages for pain, suffering, trauma and nervous shock, which was suffered by Muponde while ZiG20 816 will be damages for affront to dignity, humiliation and embarrassment caused to the Harare resident.</p>
<p>Hon. Muchinguri and Sanyatwe were also ordered to pay interest on the total amount of damages from 2019 until the date when they will make the payment to Muponde.</p>
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<p><strong>More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></strong></p>


Pindula News

Defence Minister, Army Boss Ordered To Pay ZiG40 000 To A Man Assaulted By Soldiers

<p>The State has dropped charges against Obert Masaraure, the president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), for allegedly subverting a constitutionally elected government. These charges stemmed from nationwide demonstrations that took place in January 2019, following a hike in fuel prices by the government. Masaraure revealed on social media that the charges were dropped after he had already lost his job as a result. He expressed his frustration at having been subjected to torture and humiliation in front of his family. A post seen by Pindula News read:</p>
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<p>The State has finally dropped charges of Subverting a constitutionally elected government emanating from the January 2019 protests against hiking of fuel prices. I lost my job because of this ridiculous charge. I was heavily tortured &amp; humiliated in front of my family. Evil!</p>
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<p>Others say Masaraure must sue the state for damages caused by the charges.</p>
<p>The January 2019 protests in Zimbabwe were marked by civil unrest and riots, which were met with a violent response from the government. Several people lost their lives during the protests, with varying reports suggesting that at least five individuals died from gunshot wounds and beatings by the police and military.</p>
<p>The protests were triggered by an acute shortage of vehicle fuel across the country, with long queues of cars waiting for fuel. The government claimed that the shortage was artificially created by saboteurs and criminals. On January 12, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a significant increase in fuel prices. This decision was met with criticism, as it was expected to lead to a rise in the prices of other products as well.</p>
<p>The demonstrations intensified, with barricades and looting reported in different parts of the country. The government responded by deploying the army and police to contain the protests. Reports of door-to-door raids, assaults, and arrests of young men circulated during this time.</p>
<p>The government also imposed an internet blackout, blocking access to social media platforms and websites. This move was met with widespread condemnation, and it was later revealed that the government had indeed ordered the shutdown.</p>
<p>Amidst the protests, Pastor Evan Mawarire, a prominent activist, was also arrested on charges of inciting public violence. The government continued to arrest and detain individuals associated with the protests, leading to concerns about the denial of justice and human rights violations.</p>
<p>Following these events, President Mnangagwa expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with other leaders to address the crisis faced by Zimbabwe.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>


Fuel Hike Protests: State Drop Charges Against Obert Masaraure

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<p class="js-tweet-text tweet-text with-linebreaks" lang="en">The High Court on Monday reversed a three-year jail sentence imposed on a pro-democracy activist who was arrested during <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/01/24/1-100-arrested-over-shutdownzimbabwe-protests-bulawayo-tops-list-with-441-arrests/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fuel price riots in January 2019.</a></p>
<p>The activist, Tonderai Masanga of Southlea Park, Harare, was arrested together with 13 others and accused of committing public violence.</p>
<p>A Mbare Magistrate sentenced him to 36 months in prison but he appealed against the ruling leading to his subsequent acquittal by Justices Benjamin Chikowere and Phildah Muzofa this Monday.</p>
<p>Masanga had, however, already spent 22 months in prison. His lawyer Tinashe Chinopfukutwa said:</p>
<blockquote><p>The judges set aside Masanga’s conviction and found him not guilty and acquitted him.</p></blockquote>
<p>During the protests triggered by an over 150 percent increase in the price of fuel decreed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, scores of people were arrested, killed, and or assaulted by state security forces who were deployed into homes.</p>
<p>Human rights groups documented nearly two dozen killings by the military and police, while over 75 people were treated for gunshot wounds.</p>
<p>Commenting on the exoneration of the activist, MDC Alliance national spokesperson, advocate Fadzayi Mahere said the right to protest is dead in Zimbabwe. She added:</p>
<blockquote><p>Any demonstration is quashed by the police then a frivolous, political trial follows only for the protesters to be acquitted of the charges. Any pretence that we are a constitutional democracy has been eroded. Shameful.</p></blockquote>
<p>Last year, a series of MDC protests were blocked by police arguing that there was concrete evidence to suggest the demonstrations were to degenerate into chaos.</p>
<p><strong>More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2020/10/19/man-jailed-over-january-2019-protests-acquitted-after-22-months-in-prison/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZimLive;</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/advocatemahere/status/1318502679526674432" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fadzayi Mahere</a></strong></p>
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Man Detained Over 2019 January Protests Finally Freed

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<p lang="en">The High Court on Monday reversed a three-year jail sentence imposed on a pro-democracy activist who was arrested during <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/1-100-arrested-over-shutdownzimbabwe-protests-bulawayo-tops-list-with-441-arrests/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fuel price riots in January 2019.</a></p>
<p>The activist, Tonderai Masanga of Southlea Park, Harare, was arrested together with 13 others and accused of committing public violence.</p>
<p>A Mbare Magistrate sentenced him to 36 months in prison but he appealed against the ruling leading to his subsequent acquittal by Justices Benjamin Chikowere and Phildah Muzofa this Monday.</p>
<p>Masanga had, however, already spent 22 months in prison. His lawyer Tinashe Chinopfukutwa said:</p>
<blockquote><p>The judges set aside Masanga’s conviction and found him not guilty and acquitted him.</p></blockquote>
<p>During the protests triggered by an over 150 percent increase in the price of fuel decreed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, scores of people were arrested, killed, and or assaulted by state security forces who were deployed into homes.</p>
<p>Human rights groups documented nearly two dozen killings by the military and police, while over 75 people were treated for gunshot wounds.</p>
<p>Commenting on the exoneration of the activist, MDC Alliance national spokesperson, advocate Fadzayi Mahere said the right to protest is dead in Zimbabwe. She added:</p>
<blockquote><p>Any demonstration is quashed by the police then a frivolous, political trial follows only for the protesters to be acquitted of the charges. Any pretence that we are a constitutional democracy has been eroded. Shameful.</p></blockquote>
<p>Last year, a series of MDC protests were blocked by police arguing that there was concrete evidence to suggest the demonstrations were to degenerate into chaos.</p>
<p><strong>More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2020/10/19/man-jailed-over-january-2019-protests-acquitted-after-22-months-in-prison/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZimLive;</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/advocatemahere/status/1318502679526674432" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fadzayi Mahere</a></strong></p>
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