The Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is now liable to pay damages of up to forty thousand United States dollars to two victims of the 1 August 2018 shootings.
The Minister was sued by Andy Manyeruke and Dzikamai Chivhanga who are each claiming USD $23,000 and US$17,000 respectively arising from injuries they sustained after having been shot by soldiers on the 1st of August 2018. Muchinguri’s defence was filed out of time and she had approached the court seeking to uplift the bar.
However on 8 September 2021, , Harare High Court judge, Justice Ester Muremba threw out the application after making a finding that the founding affidavit used in the application and deposed to by one of Muchinguri’s lawyers, Abigail Mushayavanhu was based on hearsay evidence which is inadmissible. This left Muchinguri with no defence. Muchinguri was represented by Advocate Tinomudaishe Chinyoka who was instructed by Mutumbwa, Mugabe & Partners Legal Practitioners while Advocate Wilbert Mandinde instructed by Mr Darlington Marange of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum appeared for Manyeruke and Chivhanga.
Source: Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
