DEFENCE Minister Hon. Oppah Muchinguri has agreed to pay US$25 000 to a victim of brutal army shootings, as compensation for injuries inflicted on his eyes, when soldiers fired bullets to suppress anti-government protests in August 2018.
Zakeo Mutimutema, who in 2018 worked for Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), sued Defence Minister Hon. Oppah Muchinguri, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Hon. Kazembe Kazembe and ZRP Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba for damages, after some glass particles got into his eyes, when armed soldiers shot at a building housing his offices on 1 August 2018, while dispersing some people, who were protesting against alleged electoral malpractices during the harmonised elections.
Mutimutema sustained some injuries and partially lost his eyesight after a stray bullet fired by members of the Zimbabwe National Army, who were dispersing some people protesting against the delay in the release of the presidential election results, shattered glasses of windows to his office at Gorlon House.
The labour law specialist had to undergo three unsuccessful eye surgeries to remove fine glass particles that pierced his eyes after a bullet fired by soldiers shattered glass windows at his ZCTU offices.
Mutimutema, who was represented by Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, had initially been awarded ZWL$295 000 as damages in November 2020 as damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and general damages, which Hon. Muchinguri, Hon. Kazembe and Mutamba had reneged on paying. The labour law specialist had to file an application wherein he amended his summons arguing that the compensation award had been significantly eroded by inflation.
On Tuesday 29 July 2025, Mutimutema was a relieved man after Hon. Muchinguri agreed to pay the labour law specialist US$25 000 as compensation for damages for current and future medical expenses, pain and suffering and general damages.
A Commission of Inquiry chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to probe the post-July 2018 election violence that left at least six people dead after they were shot by soldiers, recommended that government should compensate all the victims of the shootings and prosecute all perpetrators.
However, no known victims or families have been compensated and there has been no prosecution of perpetrators.
ENDS
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