Minister of the Interior pays ZWG 140,000 in compensation to victims of police violence

By staff reporter

A torture victim from Gweru who was brutalized by police while queuing for money at a bank during the Covid-19 pandemic has been awarded more than ZWG140,000 in compensation by the Republic of Zimbabwe Police (ZRP) .

Gweru Provincial Magistrate Miriam Banda has ordered Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe to compensate Amos Siska for the pain and suffering he endured in 2020 at the hands of his officers.

Siska was attacked by some police officers all over his body with clubs, booted feet and open hands in April 2020 while he was queuing at Stanbic Bank in Gweru.

He suffered serious injuries, including a broken arm.

Siska engaged Reginald Chidawanyika of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who sued ZRP Commissioner General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe for damages, including shock, pain and suffering, and to recover some medical costs incurred he had made during his treatment.

In 2022, he won the case after a full trial.

However, the minister did not pay compensation before Siska initiated contempt of court proceedings and threatened to cause the duo’s arrest.

However, Kazembe recently complied with the court order and paid ZWG 143,368 to Siska as directed by the court.