Man Gets Compensation for Police Beating During Lockdown
A Gweru man has been awarded over ZWG140,000 in damages after being brutally assaulted by police officers during the Covid-19 lockdown while waiting in line at a bank.
The ruling was issued by Gweru Provincial Magistrate Miriam Banda, who ordered the Zimbabwean government, represented by Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, to compensate Amos Siska for the pain and suffering he endured in April 2020.
The incident took place at Stanbic Bank in Gweru, where Siska was queuing when he was attacked by police officers. According to Siska, he was beaten with truncheons, kicked, and struck with open hands, resulting in serious injuries, including a fractured arm.
To seek justice, Siska engaged Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and lawyer Reginald Chidawanyika, filing a lawsuit against ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Kazembe.
The lawsuit sought damages for the physical and emotional trauma he experienced, as well as reimbursement for medical expenses incurred during treatment.
In 2022, after a full trial, the court ruled in Siska’s favor, but the government delayed compliance with the judgment, despite multiple requests for compensation.
Frustrated by the lack of action, Siska initiated contempt of court proceedings, threatening to have Kazembe and Matanga arrested for their failure to comply with the court order.
Eventually, Kazembe complied with the court’s ruling and paid Siska ZWG143,368 in damages, covering his medical treatment costs and compensating him for the trauma caused by the assault.
-New Zimbabwe
