MDC Alliance Youth Leader Sues Police For Wrongful Arrest

MDC Alliance youth leader, Godfrey Kurauone has notified the Zimbabwe Republic Police notifying them of his intention to sue for wrongful arrest.

In a letter by his lawyer, Martin Mureri of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) to the Commissioner-General of police, Godwin Matanga, Kurauone said his arrest was “arbitrary and without just cause”. Mureri said:

His arrest and prosecution was motivated by malice and improper motives.

In the premises, we are instructed to notify you as we hereby do, in line with the relevant statutory provisions, that our client intends to sue you jointly and severally with all police officers and other persons who participated in his wrongful and malicious arrest and prosecution, as well as the prosecutors who acted out of culpable ignorance and led to the prosecution against our client,” reads the letter which was copied to the Prosecutor General, the officer in charge for CID Law and Order in Masvingo and one constable Muonde.

The Attorney General’s office acknowledged receipt of the letter and said they had taken note of the contents and promised to reply to Kurauone’s lawyer.

Kurauone is demanding a total of ZWL$240 000 being damages for unlawful, wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, unlawful and wrongful detention and legal expenses incurred during trial.

Kurauone spent 45 days in prison following his arrest on 31 July for criminal nuisance after he allegedly circulated a video on social media while singing a song that had the words:

Ichava nhoroondo kana ndatenderwa na baba kubvisa Mnangagwa… Ichava nhoroondo (It will be history when I get the greenlight from the father to dethrone President Emmerson Mnangagwa).

He was also being accused of endangering public safety through alleged blocking a road and burning tyres on July 31, a day scheduled for foiled nationwide anti-corruption protests.

Kurauone was eventually acquitted on the charge of endangering the free movement of people, while the other one of criminal nuisance was withdrawn by the state before plea.

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