The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has reported that Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri – Kashiri was on 11 March 2021 ordered to pay legal costs for the 1 August 2018 shooting victims. We present the statement by Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum below.
Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri -Kashiri was on 11 March 2021 ordered to pay wasted costs for the lawyers representing some of the 1 August 2018 shooting victims. Harare High Court, Justice David Mangota, issued the order in three matters involving Dzikamai Chivhanga, Fabion Majuru and Andy Manyeruke.
The three victims are lucky to be alive after they were shot in Harare’s CBD when soldiers opened fire on members of the public as they attempted to disperse protesters who were demonstrating against a delay in releasing of election results. The trio is seeking damages for shock, pain and suffering caused by the unlawful actions of the soldiers.
Through her lawyer, Mrs Gloria Dzitiro of Mutumbwa Mugabe and Partner Legal Practitioners, the Defence Minister had requested that the three matters which they had erroneously set down be removed from the court roll. Advocate Wilbert Mandinde who appeared with Mr Darlington Marange from the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum argued that the error in prematurely setting the matters down deserved to be censured with an order of costs. Justice Mangota agreed and ordered the Minister to pay the wasted costs. The matter will be re-enrolled on the court roll once all pleadings are filed.
The government has claimed that it has fully complied with the Motlanthe Commission recommendations. However, one of the three, Manyeruke, has since taken President Mnangagwa to court seeking an order that the President fully complies with the recommendations as has been claimed by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Virginia Mabhiza.
