MDC vice-chairman Job Sikhala is demanding US$3 million
from Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe following his arrest for treason
last year, which he says was unlawful.
Sikhala, who was recently acquitted by the Masvingo High
Court on charges of plotting to stage a coup against President Emmerson
Mnanagwa, is also suing police commissioner-general Godwin Matanga and a
superintendent Daniel Joseph over the same matter.
According to the summons, the vibrant opposition leader
said he was exposed to shock, pain and suffering at the hands of police who
blindfolded, insulted and subjected him to pain as they transported him from
Harare to Masvingo in July last year.
“Shockingly and unethically despite the fact that a consent
to prosecute the matter in Harare had been obtained, the police officers
proceeded to transfer Sikhala to Bikita,” reads part of the summons.
“This was done in a barbaric, inhuman and degrading manner.
Matanga and Joseph locked Sikhala’s lawyers inside the cells of Harare Central
(Police Station) and refused to give them access to Sikhala.”
The Zengeza West MP said the police officers dragged him
out of the Harare Central Police Station without informing him about where he
was being taken to.
“The plaintiff was taken to the Harare Central car park and
shuffled into a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle sandwiched by two armed riot police
officers whilst his legal practitioners remained locked in cells,” the lawyers
submitted.
Sikhala said as a result of the illegal actions he wanted
US$2 million, and a further US$1 million for the pain caused by the “illegal
and unlawful actions by the police”.
The lawyers said the MP was denied medication for
hypertension while in custody. “It should be noted that the plaintiff suffers
from hypertension and as such must constantly take his medications,” they
lawyers added.
“However, in this case the plaintiff was refused access to
his medicine. This was clearly a violation of the plaintiff’s constitutional
right to health and human dignity.”
They accused the police of trying to induce “fear and
anguish” by ill-treating Sikhala. The treatment he was exposed to was intended
to induce fear and anguish,” reads the summons.
“The feelings of fear and anguish generated in him by the
treatment had the intended effect of debasing him.” Standard
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