(Last Updated on October 17, 2020 by Editor)
MASVINGO – Godfrey Kurauone, the MDC-Alliance National Youth Organasing Secretary, has filed a $2 million lawsuit against the President Mnangagwa led government over his unlawful arrest and detention which saw him spend forty days in prison without being charged.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister, Kazembe Kazembe, ZRP Commissioner General, Godwin Matanga, Prosecutor General, Kumbirai Hodzi, the arresting officer, Dectetive Constable Muonde and the Officer in Charge at Masvingo Central Police are cited as respondents.
The Masvingo Urban Ward 4 Councillor is demanding $500 000 for damages for unlawful and wrongful arrest, $800 000 for unlawful and wrongful detention, $800 000 for malicious prosecution and $300 000 for legal expenses, bringing the total to $2.4 million.
He spent 40 days in prison with the Prosecution team dropping the criminal nuisance charges leveled against him.
Masvingo Magistrate, Patience Madondo also subsequently acquitted Kurauone of the remaining obstruction of free movement of traffic and people on 10 September 2020.
The MDC-Alliance youth leader had been arrested on 31 July for singing songs deemed derogatory( as defined in Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) to the President and blocking traffic during the Anti-Corruption march that was quickly thwarted by security forces.
Kurauone is arguing that his arrest by ZRP officers and subsequent prosecution was malicious and motivated by improper motives.