By ZLHR Information Department
Three opposition political party legislators have slapped government with a lawsuit demanding more than $20 000 as compensation for violation of their fundamental rights when some law enforcement agents assaulted them in Parliament in November 2018.
The three opposition MDC party legislators namely Hon. Lynette Karenyi (Proportional Representation), Hon. Thabitha Khumalo (Proportional Representation) and Hon. Amos Chibaya representing Mkoba constituency were manhandled and assaulted by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers who invaded Parliament in November 2018 to eject them following an instruction by Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda after they refused to rise to attention when President Emmerson Mnangagwa entered Parliament to attend the 2019 national budget presentation in protest against the ZANU PF leader’s claim to victory in the July 2018 elections.
In summons filed recently at Harare Magistrates Court by the legislators’ lawyer Tinomuda Shoko of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the lawmakers, who cited ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema as respondents, charged that some ZRP officers assaulted them using clenched fists and open hands and had their clothes torn during the scuffle.
Shoko charged that the assault of the legislators amounted to violations of their constitutional rights to be treated humanely, with respect, with dignity, with integrity and not to be subjected to physical, psychological torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment guaranteed in sections 50, 51, 52 and 53 of the Constitution.
Hon. Karenyi, who fell down as she was forcefully grabbed by three police officers and suffered injuries on her right arm as a result of the assault is demanding $9 000 for damages emanating from shock, pain, suffering and past and future medical expenses.
Hon Chibaya is demanding compensation for payment of $9 000 being damages for pain, suffering and medical bills he incurred for treatment, while Hon Khumalo, who is asthmatic and lost her breath during the Parliament fracas and sustained some bruises on her hand and right hip as a result of being manhandled by ZRP officers, is demanding payment of $9 000 for shock, pain and suffering and for past and future medical expenses.