THE ZIMBABWE National Army (ZNA) has forked out more than US$23 000 to compensate a Bindura resident, who instituted legal action after rogue soldiers brutalised him under the guise of enforcing COVID-19 national lockdown regulations, six years ago.
Nqobile Ndlovu, a victim of human rights violations committed during the enforcement of COVID-19 national lockdown regulations, engaged Gift Mtisi and Nelson Tonhodzayi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who sued ZNA together with Defence Minister Hon. Oppah Muchinguri for damages arising from the assault of the Bindura resident.
In summons filed at Harare High Court, Ndlovu told the court that he was assaulted by four soldiers on 14 April 2020 at a tuckshop in Bindura in Mashonaland Central province. The soldiers, Ndlovu charged, took him to Bindura Hospital after assaulting him and then proceeded to dump him at the hospital entrance.
Despite wreathing in pain, Ndlovu managed to take a video of the soldiers leaving the scene of the crime outside the hospital.
When he was in hospital, the soldiers visited him and offered to settle the matter by paying compensation before leaving without any tangible agreement on the proposed private settlement.
Thereafter, the rogue soldiers then ceased all communication with Ndlovu, forcing him to seek assistance from ZLHR, whose lawyers proceeded to file summons at the High Court claiming damages for the violation of the Bindura resident’s rights.
High Court Judge Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa ruled in favour of Ndlovu, awarding him damages totalling US$23 500 with the breakdown as follows: US$3 000 as special damages, general damages US$20 500 broken down as US$9 000 for nervous shock pain and suffering, US$2 500 disfigurement, US$5 000 for loss of earning and US$ 2000 for future medical expenses.
Now, the ZNA has finally complied with the terms of the court order by paying US$23 500 as compensation to Ndlovu, thereby putting closure to the legal claim.
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ENDS
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