The Government of Zimbabwe has agreed to pay US$25,000 in compensation to Zakeo Mutimutema, a victim of the August 1, 2018 post-election shootings in Harare, following years of legal wrangling.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said: “Defence Minister Hon. Oppah Muchinguri is paying US$25,000 to a victim of brutal army shootings, as compensation for injuries inflicted on his eyes, when soldiers fired bullets to suppress anti-government protests in August 2018.”
Mutimutema, who was working for the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) at the time, suffered partial loss of eyesight after a bullet fired by soldiers shattered a window at Gorlon House, where his office was located.
The bullet was part of a volley fired by the army to disperse demonstrators protesting delays in the release of presidential election results.
“Some glass particles got into his eyes when armed soldiers shot at a building housing his offices on 1 August 2018,” said ZLHR, adding that Mutimutema underwent “three unsuccessful eye surgeries to remove fine glass particles that pierced his eyes.”
Mutimutema was represented by prominent human rights lawyer Obey Shava, a member of ZLHR, in a lawsuit filed against Defence Minister Muchinguri, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, and then ZRP Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba.
He was initially awarded ZWL$295,000 by the High Court in November 2020 for pain and suffering, medical costs, and general damages. However, the amount quickly lost value due to runaway inflation, prompting Mutimutema to apply for the award to be amended to reflect the economic reality.
On 29 July 2025, Muchinguri agreed to settle the matter for US$25,000 — an amount that ZLHR said was meant to cover “current and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and general damages.”
The case has reignited criticism of the Mnangagwa administration’s failure to fully implement the recommendations of the 2018 Commission of Inquiry, led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.
The commission urged government to compensate all victims and ensure the prosecution of those responsible for the killings.
To date, no perpetrators have been brought to justice, and only a small number of victims are known to have received compensation.
Source: Zimeye
