(Last Updated on September 16, 2020 by Editor)
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner General, Godwin Matanga has been ordered by Magistrate Dhliwayo to pay ZW$56 640 to Philemon Jijita after some junior officers burnt his vehicle.
Jijita runs a tuckshop at Msasa Farm in Mazowe.
Jijita’s vehicle, a Nissan Hi-Raider which was immobile due to flat tyres caught fire and burnt to ashes as cops were evicting illegal miners at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe.
It is reported that Jijita pleaded with the police not to burn people’s homes and cabins that were close to his car but the police dismissed his plea and continued.
During the trial, Jijita also argued that he suffered severe shock and trauma as he witnessed his vehicle being wantonly burnt down by police officers without reasonable justification.
Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights was representing Jijita in his case against the ZRP.