News / National
Police assault victims file for $9,000 claim
25 Nov 2013 at 19:23hrs | Views
THREE Chiredzi women who successfully sued three police constables based at Gezani Police Station as well as police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and the then Home Affairs co-ministers Kembo Mohadi and Theresa Makone over an unwarranted assault and torture claim, are demanding $9 000 in compensation.
However, the police are only willing to pay them $400 each in an out-of-court settlement, according to correspondence sent to their lawyers signed by the police director of civil division, only identified as R M Basera dated September 30 2013.
Janet Chandlani, of Madlalele village, Patience Mapindukwa and Average Maradzira of Chavani village under Chief Sengwe, sued constables Nyamapasi (first defendant), Manditsvanga (second defendant) and Jonasi (third defendant) as well as Mohadi and Makone (third defendants) and Chihuri (fifth defendant) for assault and torture that allegedly occurred on November 7 2012.
According to court papers, the three were unlawfully assaulted all over their bodies by the three cops when they were summoned to Gezani Police Station over allegations of gossiping about a stolen pant.
While at the police station, court papers say they were beaten by the three cops and then ordered to lie down in the sun in sweltering heat.
They were also ordered to run for about 400m while carrying a 20-litre bucket of water on their heads.
They alleged that the exercise was repeated three times while members of the public watched and cheered.
After that, the three claimed the cops beat them up using sjamboks resulting in them sustaining serious bruises.
They further alleged they were taken to a nearby shopping centre and ordered to sing a jingle makuhwa akaipa (gossip is bad) before being ordered to roll on the ground.
They were then detained in police cells for four hours before being released without a charge.
They said the cops were acting within the scope and cause of Chihuri as well as the employ of Home Affairs.
The women underwent medical treatment and attached reports to support their claim. They reported the assault at Chikombedzi Police Station, leading to the arrest of the cops.
They appeared in court on January 30 this year facing assault charges and were convicted by Chiredzi magistrate Langton Ndokera, who fined them $150 each or 30 days in prison.
The conviction of the cops led the three to sue for damages. The women are being represented by the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF).
LRF legal programmes director Lucia Masuka Zanhi said their clients were yet to consider the $400 being offered by police management.
However, the police are only willing to pay them $400 each in an out-of-court settlement, according to correspondence sent to their lawyers signed by the police director of civil division, only identified as R M Basera dated September 30 2013.
Janet Chandlani, of Madlalele village, Patience Mapindukwa and Average Maradzira of Chavani village under Chief Sengwe, sued constables Nyamapasi (first defendant), Manditsvanga (second defendant) and Jonasi (third defendant) as well as Mohadi and Makone (third defendants) and Chihuri (fifth defendant) for assault and torture that allegedly occurred on November 7 2012.
According to court papers, the three were unlawfully assaulted all over their bodies by the three cops when they were summoned to Gezani Police Station over allegations of gossiping about a stolen pant.
While at the police station, court papers say they were beaten by the three cops and then ordered to lie down in the sun in sweltering heat.
They were also ordered to run for about 400m while carrying a 20-litre bucket of water on their heads.
They alleged that the exercise was repeated three times while members of the public watched and cheered.
They further alleged they were taken to a nearby shopping centre and ordered to sing a jingle makuhwa akaipa (gossip is bad) before being ordered to roll on the ground.
They were then detained in police cells for four hours before being released without a charge.
They said the cops were acting within the scope and cause of Chihuri as well as the employ of Home Affairs.
The women underwent medical treatment and attached reports to support their claim. They reported the assault at Chikombedzi Police Station, leading to the arrest of the cops.
They appeared in court on January 30 this year facing assault charges and were convicted by Chiredzi magistrate Langton Ndokera, who fined them $150 each or 30 days in prison.
The conviction of the cops led the three to sue for damages. The women are being represented by the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF).
LRF legal programmes director Lucia Masuka Zanhi said their clients were yet to consider the $400 being offered by police management.
Source - southerneye
