A HARARE man, whose wife was fatally shot by soldiers in
post-election violence on August 1, has given the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF)
a 30-day ultimatum to accept liability and pay compensation or face legal
action.
Thokozani Robert Maposa has also accused the army of having
acted “recklessly”, resulting in the death of his wife, Sylvia, who was the
family’s bread winner and employed by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority
(Zinwa).
In a letter dated October 15, addressed to Defence minister
Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and copied to the Attorney-General (AG) Advocate
Prince Machaya and the ZDF Commander Philip Valerio Sibanda, Maposa, through
his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, said his family had suffered untold psychological
trauma as a result of the loss of their breadwinner and also encountered huge
funeral expenses.
“As you are aware, the actions of the army in opening fire
using live ammunition against an unarmed civilian who was facing away from the
line of fire was not only unlawful, but constituted a gross violation of the
army’s constitutional obligation to protect citizens,” Maposa’s lawyer said.
“It was a result of the army’s gross deliberate actions
that (Sylvia) lost her life, which resulted in the dependant’s family members
losing their means of support in addition to suffering the unimaginable trauma
of seeing a loved one being the subject of social medial exchanges with a
visible bullet wound in the back.”
Maposa’s wife was one of the seven people shot dead by
soldiers, prompting President Emmerson Mnangagwa to institute a commission of
inquiry led by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe.
The inquiry is on-going.
“We, therefore, give you notice of the intended legal suit
and would be grateful to hear from you regarding your attitude on the issue of
liability,” Maposa’s lawyer said.
“If we have not heard from you within 30 calendar days of
this letter, we shall assume that you are denying liability, in which event we
shall thereafter proceed in the best interests of our client without further
notice to you.” Newsday
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