By Dumisani Ndlovu
In a significant victory for justice and human rights, Pepukai Nhokwara, a torture victim, was awarded $13,000 in damages by Senior Gweru Civil Court Magistrate Blessing Tsingano. Nhokwara suffered a brutal assault at the hands of unidentified Mtapa police officers.
The Monomutapa Police Station Officer-in-Charge has implicated themselves, Commissioner General Matanga, and the Minister of Home Affairs and Heritage in protecting junior officers who carried out the assault.
“The court is alive to the fact that each case is dealt with on its own merit,” Magistrate Tsingano stated. “Around the 29th of November 2021, the first defendant Officer-in-charge confirmed receipt of complaint by the plaintiff. The first defendants undertook to update the plaintiff of the outcome of the investigations against the subordinates.”
Nhokwara’s ordeal began when he voluntarily went to the police station and was met with violence by two police officers, identified only as Sibanda and Ndlovu. They failed to discharge their duties, leaving Nhokwara with severe injuries, including blisters, pain, and hallucinations.
Due to his injuries, Nhokwara was forced to resign from his job. Magistrate Tsingano awarded Nhokwara $10,000 in damages for pain, suffering, trauma, and nervous shock, and an additional $3,137.80 for medical expenses.
This ruling serves as a beacon of hope for victims of police brutality and a warning to perpetrators that their actions will have consequences. It comes after Zimbabwe Peace Project reported that at least 213 human rights violations were reported in Zimbabwe, with police officers involved in nearly 40% of the infractions.
In its August Monthly Monitoring Report, Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) revealed that police led in the violation of human rights.“The Zimbabwe Republic Police constituted 39,4% of the perpetrators, while Zanu PF-affiliated perpetrators amounted to 25,91%,” the ZPP report read.
The court’s courageous ruling ensures that the police are held accountable for their heinous actions, demonstrating the legal system’s potential for accountability and reform.
