Source: Muchinguri Faces Jail Over Failure To Pay US$25k To 2018 Army Shooting Victim ⋆ Pindula News
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri is facing a possible six-month jail term for defying a High Court order directing her to pay US$25,000 in compensation to a victim of the August 2018 army shootings.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Muchinguri agreed in July 2025 to pay the compensation to Zakeyo Mutimutema, a former employee of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
Mutimutema sued Muchinguri, together with Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe and Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba, for damages covering current and future medical expenses, pain and suffering and general damages.
The claim arose from events on 1 August 2018, when soldiers were deployed to suppress protests in Harare against alleged electoral malpractices and delays in the release of presidential election results. At least six people were shot dead during the crackdown.
Mutimutema, a labour law specialist, was inside his offices at Gorlon House in Harare when soldiers fired at the building. A bullet shattered window panes, sending glass particles into his eyes. He sustained serious injuries and partially lost his eyesight.
ZLHR said Mutimutema has since undergone three unsuccessful eye surgeries to remove fine glass particles that pierced his eyes.
Following his lawsuit, the High Court ordered in July 2025 that Muchinguri pay US$25,000 as compensation.
Now, through his lawyer Obey Shava of ZLHR, Mutimutema has filed an application for committal for contempt of court. He wants the High Court to declare Muchinguri to be in contempt for wilfully failing to comply with the July 2025 order and to commit her to prison for six months, wholly suspended on condition that she complies within seven days.
In the application, Mutimutema argues that Muchinguri wilfully disobeyed the order and ignored several demands for payment, with no justification. He contends that her conduct is contemptuous and undermines the authority of the court.
The case comes amid continued calls for justice for victims of the 2018 shootings. A Commission of Inquiry chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to investigate the violence, recommended compensation for all victims and prosecution of perpetrators.
According to ZLHR, no known victims or families have been compensated, and no perpetrators have been prosecuted.
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