By A Correspondent- Home Affairs minister, Kazembe Kazembe has paid ZW$199 500 compensation to a Gweru-based student who was illegally arrested and brutally assaulted by police in 2018.

The student, Simon Mandoza hauled government to court demanding compensation for the illegal arrest and assault.

Harare Magistrate Tilda Mazhande ruled in his favour and gave the minister an ultimatum to pay the money or be sentenced to 60 days behind bars.

Mandoza’s lawyers Fiona Iliff and Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) were notified by a legal advisor in Kazembe’s ministry only identified as P. Madziviridze through a letter that payment had been effected.

Reads the letter:

Reference is made to your letter dated October 8 2020 in which you requested the payment of a judgement debt amounting to ZWL$199 500. Please be advised that the payment has been effected and we have hereto attached the proof of payment.

Mandoza had sued Kazembe and ZRP Commissioner-General  Godwin Matanga after some police officers arrested him while he was standing outside a fast food outlet in Harare CBD.

The officers were carrying out an operation against informal traders in the CBD during the same period. Mandoza was arrested, assaulted before he was taken to Harare Central Police Station where he was finally released without charge.