Police oppose Hwange women’s lawsuit

News
HWANGE police have opposed a lawsuit filed by five Hwange women demanding more than $100 000 from the police for alleged brutality after anti-riot cops violently broke up a protest by disgruntled wives of Hwange Colliery Company Limited male workers that had gone for seven months without pay.

HWANGE police have opposed a lawsuit filed by five Hwange women demanding more than $100 000 from the police for alleged brutality after anti-riot cops violently broke up a protest by disgruntled wives of Hwange Colliery Company Limited male workers that had gone for seven months without pay.

SENIOR COURT REPORTER

The women issued the summons in July at the Bulawayo High Court after police broke their peaceful demonstration, on October 7 2013 in the mining town leaving scores of miners’ wives seriously injured.

Lawyer Tanaka Muganyi, who is representing the five of the women, Thokozile Sibanda, Luzani Ngwenya, Evelyn Dube, Margaret Mpofu and Judith Mangena, confirmed the new development.

“The police have filed their papers. We are now going to respond to them and set down the matter for hearing,” Muganyi said.

The five are demanding $20 000 each for malicious detention and humiliation. Mpofu, who was admitted at hospital nursing injuries of the alleged police brutality, is demanding an extra $1 500 for future medical expenses.

Hwange Police Station officer in charge, one Chief Inspector Chigede, police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi are cited as the respondents in the lawsuit.

Sibanda, Ngwenya, Dube and Mangena said the police rounded them up from their homes at midnight on October 7, the day of the planned peaceful demonstration and detained them before releasing them without charge.

Mpofu in her declaration said she was part of a group of 50 women who had gathered for the protest at the company offices more than 8km from the compound.

She said before the group had reached their intended destination, they were intercepted by police in riot gear.

“In the process, one of the riot police officers tripped plaintiff to the ground, wherein she fell to the ground and hurt her head on an iron bar and was unconscious.

“She bled profusely and sustained a deep laceration in the scalp wherein she was sewn 10 stitches. Plaintiff was also bruised all over the body.

“Plaintiff was detained for a period of three days from the 7th of October 2013 at Hwange Colliery. Hospital and since the brutal assault and injuries, the plaintiff has continuously been subjected to serious migraine headaches and requires a consistent supply of painkillers,” her lawyer submitted.