The Zimbabwe Republic Police has paid over ZWG140,000 to Amos Siska, a Gweru resident and victim of police brutality.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), in April 2020, during the enforcement of government-imposed national lockdown regulations, ZRP officers severely assaulted Siska while he was queuing at Stanbic Bank in Gweru.
Siska was assaulted with truncheons, booted feet, and open hands, resulting in serious injuries, including a fractured arm.
Following the assault, Siska engaged Reginald Chidawanyika from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to sue ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe for damages related to shock, pain, suffering, and medical expenses.
After a full trial in April 2022, Gweru Provincial Magistrate Miriam Banda ordered Matanga and Kazembe to compensate Siska for the damages resulting from the police assault.
Instead of complying with the court order promptly, Matanga and Kazembe delayed payment, prompting Siska’s lawyer to initiate contempt of court proceedings.
Recently, Kazembe and Matanga finally complied with the court order and paid ZWG143,368 to Siska as compensation for the violation of his rights due to police brutality.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A man in Gweru, Zimbabwe got hurt by the police during lockdown. They hit him and broke his arm. He asked for money to pay for the pain and medical bills. The police at first did not give him the money. Finally, after some time, they paid him ZWG143,368. He received the money for the harm caused by the police. This shows that sometimes when people do wrong things, they have to make it right by giving money to those they hurt.

Gweru Man Receives Over ZWG140,000 Compensation After Assault By Police During Lockdown

Four Shurugwi residents are set to receive nearly US$40,000 in compensation after a judicial officer convicted Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri for violating their rights during a government-imposed lockdown three years ago.
The residents—Grant Zinyuke, Moreblessing Ncube, Batler Jabangwe, and Mavhuto Kachepa—were assaulted by soldiers enforcing the lockdown in August 2021. They argued that the soldiers acted unlawfully under the control of Sanyatwe and Muchinguri, who were held vicariously liable.
Represented by lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the residents described severe injuries resulting from the assaults.
Zinyuke suffered facial injuries and lost teeth; Ncube experienced swelling and bruising; Jabangwe endured multiple injuries that affected his ability to wear shoes; and Kachepa sustained serious leg fractures.
Magistrate Patricia Gwetsayi ordered Sanyatwe and Muchinguri to pay Zinyuke US$10,000, Ncube US$8,000, Jabangwe US$8,000, and Mavhuto US$12,000 for pain, suffering, trauma, and medical expenses related to their injuries.
Below is the full statement by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights on the matter:
<blockquote>
FOUR AGGRIEVED Shurugwi residents are set to receive close to US$40 000 after a judicial officer convicted Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe and Defence Minister Hon. Oppah Muchinguri for violating their rights, when some soldiers went on a rampage and brutalised them, during a government-imposed national lockdown, three years ago.
Sanyatwe and Hon. Muchinguri stood trial at Shurugwi Magistrates Court after the four residents namely Grant Zinyuke, who is employed at Shurugwi Hospital, Moreblessing Ncube, who is self-employed, Batler Jabangwe, an employee of Shurugwi City Council and Mavhuto Kachepa, who is self-employed, sued the duo, demanding payment of compensation for violation of their rights, when they were brutally assaulted in August 2021 by some soldiers, who were enforcing the national lockdown imposed by government in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
In summons filed at Shurugwi Magistrates Court, Zinyuke, Ncube, Jabangwe and Kachepa, argued that the conduct of the soldiers, who at all material times were acting within their course and scope of their employment as duly attested members of ZNA and under the control or instructions of Sanyatwe and Hon. Muchinguri, who were held vicariously liable for their actions, was unlawful.
The residents, who were represented by Prisca Dube and Jabulani Mhlanga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argued that the soldiers unlawfully, wrongfully and without just cause, assaulted them resulting in them sustaining several injuries on their bodies.
In the case of Zinyuke, he sustained some injuries which include swelling on the forehead, lacerations on the upper lip and nose, bruises on his back and losing some of his teeth and had to seek medical treatment.
Dube and Mhlanga told Shurugwi Magistrate Patricia Gwetsayi, who presided over the trial of Sanyatwe and Hon. Muchinguri, that Ncube sustained severe swelling on his face, forearms and bruises all over his back, when he was assaulted by some soldiers on 1 August 2021, for allegedly being outside his residence buying airtime so as to get an update on the health status of his ailing mother.
Jabangwe, an employee of Shurugwi City Council, was assaulted all over his body by soldiers, who saw him while coming from executing his duties of opening water taps at Makusha shopping centre and who accused him of wandering around.
As a result of the assault by the soldiers, Jabangwe sustained injuries on the right side of his back and on his left leg, which injury makes it difficult for him to wear closed shoes to date and remains severely traumatised by the incident.
In the case of Kachepa, the lawyers stated that he was assaulted by soldiers, whom he met when he was on his way home from a beer retail outlet, who confronted him and without any provocation or warning, used guns and broke his right leg in two spots.
While he was lying on the ground, some soldiers assaulted him all over his body and he sustained two severe fractures on the right leg, swelling all over the body, lacerations on the arms and some bruises on his body.
Dube and Mhlanga argued that such conduct by soldiers against the Shurugwi residents, was cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment punishment, which left them traumatised, anxious and in shock.
Recently, Magistrate Gwetsayi ordered Sanyatwe and Hon. Muchinguri to pay Zinyuke US$10 000, US$12 000 to Mavhuto, US$8 000 to Jabangwe and US$8 000 to Ncube, as compensation for damages for pain and suffering, trauma and nervous shock and for medical expenses, which they incurred while seeking treatment.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Four people from Shurugwi were hurt by soldiers during a lockdown in Zimbabwe. The soldiers were acting under the control of top military and government officials Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri. The four victims suffered serious injuries, including broken legs and lost teeth. The court ordered the officials to pay them compensation totaling nearly US$40,000 for their pain, suffering, trauma, and medical expenses. The victims were represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. The soldiers' behavior was considered cruel and inhuman, leading to the victims being traumatized and shocked.

Four Shurugwi Residents Tortured By Soldiers During Lockdown Awarded Nearly US$40,000

Full statement by the Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Amon Murwira on the COVID-19 Level 2 National Lockdown:
<blockquote>
<h2>THE COVID-19 LEVEL 2 NATIONAL LOCKDOWN REVIEW MEASURES, 28th JANUARY, 2022</h2>
Over the past two weeks, the country has recorded a decline in new COVID-19 cases. The National COVID-19 epidemic curve is indicating that the 4th Wave is at its tail end and this Wave appears to be under control.
In this regard, the Acting President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon. Gen. (Retd) Dr CGDN Chiwenga, has reviewed the COVID-19 Level 2 National Lockdown Measures as follows:
1. The general school calendar starts on 7 February 2022 following one week of finalising all reopening preparations by both school administrators and parents;
2. The business community to go back to working from their offices whilst continuing to observe COVID-19 prevention measures such as social distancing and also continuing to 
encourage their employees and patrons to get vaccinated;
3. Curfew shall now begin at midnight (0000hrs) and end at 0530 hours the following day;
4. Restaurants and hotels offering catering services to operate from 0800 hours and close at 2200 hours and allow sit-ins only for fully vaccinated persons;
5. Bars and nightclubs shall open from 0800 hours to 2200 hours only for vaccinated persons;
6. All persons entering Zimbabwe must undergo a valid COVID- 19 PCR test not more than 48 hours from the time of their departure for Zimbabwe. Those who do not have a valid negative PCR test and a certificate to that effect shall be denied entry into Zimbabwe;
7. Quarantine for locals, returning residents and visitors is lifted for those fully vaccinated;
8. The wearing of face masks in public places, especially public transport and closed space gatherings remain mandatory and must be enforced;
9. Eligible members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated;
10. The provincial COVID-19 task-force teams are urged to increase their efforts in mobilising eligible members of the public to get vaccinated;
11. Finally, the practice of WHO-recommended COVID-19 preventive public health and social measures that include: washing of hands; sanitising; social distancing; avoiding crowds and gatherings; to continue.
12. All of the above measures are subject to periodic review depending on the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

FULL TEXT: Schools To Reopen On 7 February, Govt Relaxes National Lockdown

The youthful MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has suggested that the government implements a tiered lockdown in Zimbabwe in order to protect citizens from poverty induced poverty according to the <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsHawksLive/status/1354768469175246849">NewsHawks</a>:
<blockquote>The leader of Zimbabwe’s main opposition MDC-Alliance, Nelson Chamisa, says although Covid-19 lockdowns may be unavoidable, it would be better to implement them smartly, by way of zonal or staggered lockdowns. This would protect citizens from “lockdown-induced poverty”</blockquote>
Chamisa was giving his COVID-19 address when he also said churches should be opened so that people can pray for themselves and their loved ones during the lockdown.
He also thanked those who have donated COVID-19 sundries and said he has heard about the donations and the fact that the donations are not being politized before he also thanked the frontline workers for their selfless service.

Chamisa Suggests Tiered Lockdown For Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce in a report titled Sustainable and Flexible Economic Interventions to Address COVID-19 has said if the government extends the lockdown without resorting to partial lockdown, the pleasure and tourism sector might totally collapse, The Zimbabwe Independent reports.
The report the publication was quoting reads in part;
<blockquote>If the total lockdown is extended without resorting to partial lockdown, some of the leisure and tourism operators might completely collapse.</blockquote>
ZNCC urged the government to implement a partial lockdown and said a partial lockdown would:
<ol>
<li> Entail continued monitoring and restricted working hours from 5 am to 7 pm</li>
<li>Allow the production of goods by business to meet domestic needs</li>
<li>Allow retention of the workforce.</li>
</ol>
More: <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/">Zimbabwe Independent </a>

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