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Airtime vendor sues ZRP for US$40,000
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Airtime vendor Michael Zumba from Masvingo has filed a US$40,000 lawsuit against Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba and Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe, alleging unlawful arrest, wrongful detention, and malicious prosecution.
Zumba was arrested on April 24, 2024, on accusations of foreign currency trading at Yeukai Business Center in Masvingo, where he was selling airtime. Despite being found with only R20, US$20, and airtime, no evidence was found to substantiate the claim of illegal money changing.
Following his arrest by Detective Constables Mabheka and Dzingirai of Masvingo Central Police Station, Zumba was denied bail and detained for four weeks. Tragically, during his incarceration, he lost his two-year-old daughter, Beauty Matipashe Zumba, on May 21, 2024.
The Masvingo Magistrates Court later acquitted Zumba, with the presiding magistrate ruling there was no basis for the arrest.
Zumba's lawyer, Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri legal practitioners, filed the suit on June 6, 2025, at the Magistrates Court in Masvingo. The defendants include Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Commissioner General Mutamba, and the two police officers involved in the arrest.
The lawsuit claims damages of US$15,000 for wrongful arrest, US$10,000 for wrongful detention, US$10,000 for malicious prosecution, and US$5,000 for legal costs incurred defending the charges.
"Notice was given to the defendants of the plaintiff's intention to sue in terms of Section 6 of the State Liabilities Act (Chapter 08:14). The defendants have refused or neglected to pay despite lawful demand. As a result of the defendants' unlawful conduct, the plaintiff suffered damages amounting to US$40,000," the application reads.
Zumba is seeking a court order for the payment of US$40,000 in damages by the defendants, along with legal costs on an attorney-client scale. The plaintiff is expected to serve the court papers to the defendants in the coming days.
Zumba was arrested on April 24, 2024, on accusations of foreign currency trading at Yeukai Business Center in Masvingo, where he was selling airtime. Despite being found with only R20, US$20, and airtime, no evidence was found to substantiate the claim of illegal money changing.
Following his arrest by Detective Constables Mabheka and Dzingirai of Masvingo Central Police Station, Zumba was denied bail and detained for four weeks. Tragically, during his incarceration, he lost his two-year-old daughter, Beauty Matipashe Zumba, on May 21, 2024.
The Masvingo Magistrates Court later acquitted Zumba, with the presiding magistrate ruling there was no basis for the arrest.
Zumba's lawyer, Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri legal practitioners, filed the suit on June 6, 2025, at the Magistrates Court in Masvingo. The defendants include Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Commissioner General Mutamba, and the two police officers involved in the arrest.
The lawsuit claims damages of US$15,000 for wrongful arrest, US$10,000 for wrongful detention, US$10,000 for malicious prosecution, and US$5,000 for legal costs incurred defending the charges.
"Notice was given to the defendants of the plaintiff's intention to sue in terms of Section 6 of the State Liabilities Act (Chapter 08:14). The defendants have refused or neglected to pay despite lawful demand. As a result of the defendants' unlawful conduct, the plaintiff suffered damages amounting to US$40,000," the application reads.
Zumba is seeking a court order for the payment of US$40,000 in damages by the defendants, along with legal costs on an attorney-client scale. The plaintiff is expected to serve the court papers to the defendants in the coming days.
Source - Mirror
