MASVINGO – Three more airtime vendors from Masvingo are each suing the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs for US$40 000 for unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution.
The plaintiffs who spent four weeks in jail without trial have filed the lawsuits against ZRP Commissioner General, Stephen Mutamba and Minister of Home Affairs, Kazembe Kazembe.
London Rugwenya, Tendai Mugabe and Wilson Gumepi who are being represented by Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri Legal Practitioners were arrested on April 29, 2024 on allegations that they were changing foreign currency. Magistrate Nomagugu Sibanda found no evidence at all linking them to the crimes.
The three are now suing the State for unlawful arrest and being detained for long periods without trial. They also accuse Police of malicious prosecution and want to claim the costs that they suffered in defending themselves.
Two months ago, another vendor, Michael Zumba filed a US$40 000 lawsuit against the State for the same reasons.
The four who were among many others arrested throughout the country were accused of contravening Sections 5 (1) (a) (ii) of the Exchange Control Act Chapter 20:05 as read with Section 4 of the Exchange Control Amendment Regulations 1996, cited as S.I 109/1996 and S.I 122/1996 of the Exchange Control.
According to the lawsuit filed at the Magistrates Court in Masvingo by Mureri on August 6, 2025, they were arrested by Police officers Christopher Marufu, one only identified as Zvinoitavamwe and another who is yet to be identified on April 29, 2024. They also argue that the arrest was without a warrant and justice cause.
The plaintiffs avers that their arrest and prosecution were motivated by malice and improper motives on the part of the defendant.
The plaintiffs were supposed to serve the papers on the defendants last week.
The breakdown of the damages is US$15 000 for wrongful arrest, US$10 000 for wrongful detention, US$10 000 for malicious prosecution and US$5 000 for defending malicious allegations against him.
The interest on the amounts will be paid at the prescribed rate from the date of summons to the date of full payment and the costs of suit.
“The plaintiff avers that his arrest and prosecution were motivated by malice and improper motives on the part of the defendants and/or their agents acting in the course and scope of their employment. In the premises, the plaintiff suffered damages as a direct result of the unlawful and wrongful detention, and malicious prosecution by the defendants and or their agents.
“The plaintiff prays for an order for the payment of US$40,000 for damages by the defendants, the one paying the other to be absolved, and costs of suit on an attorney-client scale,” reads the application.
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