MDC Alliance vice-chairperson, Job ‘Wiwa’ Sikhala has sued Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, CID Law and Order and several police officers for wrongful arrest.
Sikhala was arrested in July last year for insinuating that his party was planning to dislodge president Mnangagwa from power, “before 2023” and was later acquitted by Masvingo High Court judge on February 14 this year.
The Zengeza West legislator is now demanding compensation for $1.5 million for the inhumane treatment and wrongful arrest adding that he was unable to work during the time he was on remand.
The claim is broken down as follows:
- Z$200,000 damages for unlawful and wrongful arrest;
- Z$300,000 for pain, shock and suffering;
- Z$200,000 damages for unlawful and wrongful detention;
- Z$300,000 special damages for loss of income;
- Z$200,000 for malicious prosecution and
- US$300,000 for travel, accommodation and subsistence during his trial.
In his affidavit, Sikhala claims that he was treated inhumanely. He claims that he that:
he not given blankets to cover himself during detention at Harare Central Police Station cells,
There was no running water in the cells and no toilet paper was provided
he was denied an opportunity to see his lawyers.
he was blindfolded and driven to Masvingo without the knowledge of his lawyers.
he was physically and verbally abused by police officers who travelled with him along the way to Masvingo.
he was denied an opportunity to relive himself despite a specific relief to answer the call of nature.
While at Remand Prison in Masvingo, he was put in the same cell with a mentally-ill inmate who would defecate in his blankets, leaving him to bear the stench smell and bear cold nights.
He also claims that he failed to get the sitting allowance he is entitled to as a member of the National Assembly because he missed some Parliamentary sessions.
