BULAWAYO resident Levison Ncube, 25, died from \u201csubarachnoid haemorrhage and head trauma\u201d a few days after police allegedly beat him for allegedly violating Zimbabwe\u2019s COVID-19 lockdown rules in April.<\/p>\n
The cause of his death is contained in a post-mortem report conducted by a government pathologist at the local United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), seen by TimesLIVE.<\/p>\n
Levison and his pregnant girlfriend were on their way to the shops to buy basic commodities in Mabuthweni, a low-income suburb in Bulawayo when police reprimanded them.<\/p>\n
Armed with the post-mortem, the deceased\u2019s family has filed a notice of intent to sue Godwin Matanga, the commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).<\/p>\n
Mehluli Dube, a lawyer with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR) representing the Ncube family, told TimesLIVE his clients were claiming compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, general damages for loss of support and any other ancillary damages suffered as a result of the death.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur clients hold the position that the deceased died as a result of the injuries he sustained after being assaulted by a police officer who at the material time was acting within the scope and course of his employment as a police officer employed by the ministry of home affairs which makes the state vicariously liable for his conduct,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This is the third case of the government being sued for violations committed during the national lockdown period. Two are from Bulawayo and one from Gweru, and they are demanding a total of ZW$750,000 (about R312,500).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the government says the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are working round the clock investigating the alleged disappearance and torture of Netsai Marova, Cecilia Chimbiri, and Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe last week.<\/p>\n
Police warned that after investigations the trio would face the wrath of the law because they took part in an illegal demonstration in violation of the country\u2019s Covid-19 lockdown rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trio\u2019s demonstration was illegal because for one to stage a demonstration, one should have a police clearance.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, in that respect, it was illegal and they also violated the lockdown regulations. So, it was illegal and there was no social distancing.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it will be dealt with at an appropriate time. For now, we are dealing with the alleged abduction,\u201d home affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe told journalists.<\/p>\n
The Elders \u2013 the Nelson Mandela-founded organisation of elder statesmen, peace activists, and human rights advocates \u2013 said in a statement that it was alarmed by reports of more abductions, torture, and sexual abuse of female activists in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll stakeholders must act in good faith to protect lives, freedoms, and the rule of law,\u201d the organisation said.<\/p>\n
In September last year, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, who chairs The Elders, and her deputy, former first lady of SA Gra\u00e7a Machel, visited Zimbabwe to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, civic society and women\u2019s groups to push for a \u201ctruly inclusive national dialogue\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BULAWAYO resident Levison Ncube, 25, died from \u201csubarachnoid haemorrhage and head trauma\u201d a few days after police allegedly beat him for allegedly violating Zimbabwe\u2019s COVID-19 lockdown rules in April. The cause of his death is contained in a post-mortem report conducted by a government pathologist at the local United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), seen by TimesLIVE. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":23315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[188,661],"class_list":{"0":"post-23314","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-community","9":"tag-bulawayo","10":"tag-zrp"},"yoast_head":"\n