Author: TSA Press

Juruvenge’s
widow,
Mellisa
Manyepa
(his
half-sister),
and
Jim
(a
family
member)
have
filed
a
notice
of
intention
to
sue
for
damages,
claiming
their
loved
one
was
intentionally
and
unlawfully
killed
while
in
detention
at
Ruwa
Police
Station.

They
are
being
represented
by
Tinashe
Chinopfukutwa
and
Paidamoyo
Saurombe
of
Zimbabwe
Lawyers
for
Human
Rights
(ZLHR).

According
to
the
family’s
account,
Juruvenge
was
arrested
on
May
27,
2025,
by
Constable
Prince
Ndavambi
of
Ruwa
Police
Station,
accompanied
by
a
Mr.
Maphosa.
He
was
taken
from
his
residence
to
Ruwa
Police
Station.

Later,
Constable
Ndavambi
summoned
Juruvenge’s
half-sister,
Mellisa
Manyepa,
to
the
station.

Upon
her
arrival,
she
alleges
Constable
Ndavambi
began
interrogating
her
about
“harbouring
an
accused
person”
and
allegedly
extorting
US$100
from
Maphosa.

Manyepa
claims
she
was
then
severely
assaulted
by
Constable
Ndavambi
with
a
hoe
handle
on
her
legs
while
seated,
to
the
point
where
the
handle
broke.

A
female
police
officer
present
reportedly
pleaded
with
Ndavambi
to
stop,
but
her
pleas
were
ignored.

The
ZLHR
statement
details
that
Constable
Ndavambi
then
fetched
Juruvenge
from
the
holding
cells,
brought
him
into
the
same
office,
and
proceeded
to
assault
him
“all
over
the
body
with
a
hoe
handle
while
he
was
handcuffed.”

Manyepa
estimates
the
brutal
assault
on
Juruvenge
lasted
between
40
minutes
to
an
hour.

Manyepa
claims
that
during
the
ordeal,
Ndavambi
chillingly
told
her
she
would
“cry
until
tears
of
blood
stream
out
from
her
eyes”
and
showed
her
a
nearby
coffin,
saying
Juruvenge
would
“go
into
the
coffin
because
the
police
at
Ruwa
Police
Station
heavily
assault
people.”

Ndavambi
also
allegedly
told
Manyepa
he
was
smoking
cannabis
“so
that
he
would
be
unreasonable.”

Despite
Juruvenge
being
unable
to
stand
due
to
his
injuries
and
requesting
water,
his
request
was
allegedly
denied
by
Ndavambi
and
a
female
officer.

Ndavambi
then
allegedly
“grabbed
Juruvenge
by
the
neck
and
frog-marched
him
out
of
the
office,”
instructing
Manyepa
to
go
home
and
find
money
for
him
and
Maphosa.

The
next
morning,
May
28,
2025,
Manyepa
was
called
back
to
Ruwa
Police
Station
by
the
Officer
In
Charge.
She
was
informed
that
Juruvenge
had
“stopped
breathing
during
the
night”
and
had
subsequently
died
after
being
taken
to
a
“rehabilitation
centre.”

Manyepa
immediately
informed
the
Officer
In
Charge
that
Juruvenge
had
died
from
the
injuries
inflicted
by
Constable
Ndavambi’s
assaults
the
previous
day.

She
later
identified
his
body,
noting
visible
injuries
beneath
his
feet,
on
his
legs,
and
on
his
back.
Manyepa
herself
continues
to
experience
severe
pain
from
the
assault
she
endured.

Juruvenge’s
family,
including
his
pregnant
widow,
argues
that
Constable
Ndavambi
“intentionally
and
unlawfully
caused
the
death
of
Juruvenge,”
violating
his
constitutional
right
to
life.

They
also
contend
that
the
assaults
on
both
Juruvenge
and
Manyepa
amounted
to
“inhuman,
degrading
treatment
and
excessive
use
of
force.”

The
lawsuit
also
implicates
the
Officer
In
Charge
at
Ruwa
Police
Station,
alleging
a
“breach
of
duty
of
care”
by
failing
to
prevent
police
premises
from
being
used
as
“torture
chambers.”

Juruvenge’s
dependents,
who
relied
on
him
as
their
breadwinner
(employed
as
a
driver
at
Bakers
Inn
and
also
engaged
in
welding
and
running
a
tuckshop),
state
they
have
lost
their
financial
support
due
to
his
death
and
are
receiving
psychological
assistance
for
their
trauma.

The
family
argues
that
Commissioner-General
Mutamba
and
Minister
Kazembe
are
“vicariously
liable”
for
the
harm
suffered,
as
Constable
Ndavambi
was
acting
within
the
scope
of
his
duties
as
a
police
officer
during
the
alleged
fatal
assault.

The
ZLHR
said
that
the
total
sum
of
damages
being
claimed
will
be
computed
and
furnished
to
Mutamba
and
Kazembe
in
summons,
which
their
lawyers
will
file
in
court.

The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP)
confirmed
they
are
investigating
the
high-value
heist,
which
occurred
at
approximately
10:00
AM
at
a
business
premise
located
at
the
corner
of
Cameroon
and
Albion
Street.

According
to
a
ZRP
press
statement
released
today,
four
unknown
individuals,
armed
with
an
“unknown
pistol,”
pounced
on
the
business.

Police
have
not
yet
released
details
regarding
the
specific
nature
of
the
business
targeted
or
any
further
information
about
the
suspects.
The
statement
reads:

The
ZRP
is
investigating
a
case
of
robbery
which
occurred
at
a
mall
at
corner
Cameroon
and
Albion
Street
in
Harare
CBD
on
Monday,
16/06/25
at
around
10
AM.

Four
unknown
suspects
who
were
armed
with
an
unknown
pistol
pounced
at
the
business
premise
and
stole
US$500
000
cash.
More
details
will
be
released
in
due
course.

Meanwhile, a
report claims
the
target
was Steve’s
Mall,
where
a
prominent
Indian
businessman
was
robbed
of
half
a
million
dollars
in
cash
and
luxury
electronics.

Witnesses
at
the
scene
described
the
suspects’
movements
as
having
“military
precision,”
causing
vendors
and
shoppers
to
scramble
for
cover.

The
gang
reportedly
struck
with
extreme
speed
and
vanished
just
as
quickly,
leaving
behind
a
wake
of
panic.

The
usually
bustling
street
was
brought
to
a
standstill
as
emergency
sirens
wailed
and
stunned
onlookers
watched
the
aftermath
unfold.

The
robbers
allegedly
caught
the
businessman
completely
off
guard,
pouncing
before
he
could
react
and
making
off
with
the
loot
without
firing
a
single
shot.

KWEKWE
–
In
a
field
of
paprika
plants
in
the
heart
of
Zimbabwe,
fourth-generation
farmer
Daniel
Burger
and
relative
newcomer
Miriam
Mupambawashe
discuss
the
quality
of
the
crop.

Burger,
36,
and
Mupambawashe,
59,
are
neighbours
and
partners
in
efforts
to
revive
the
country’s
once-flourishing
agriculture
sector
cut
down
by
a
ruinous
land
reform
drive
in
the
2000s.

The
reform
distributed
land
from
the
white
minority,
which
still
owned
most
of
the
best
farmland
20
years
after
independence
in
1980,
to
the
black
majority.

Around
4,000
white-owned
farms
were
confiscated,
some
with
deadly
violence.

Mupambawashe
was
among
thousands
who
received
land.
Though
she
initially
knew
little
about
farming,
her
small
subsistence
plot
now
thrives.

Other
farms
failed
or
were
abandoned,
with
some
new
tenants
unschooled
in
agriculture
and
others
—
including
politicians
who
were
handed
land
—
uninterested.

There
were
food
shortages
and
Zimbabwe
soon
required
international
aid.

“There
was
a
bit
of
a
tough
period
through
the
2000s
and,
unfortunately,
I
think
it
sort
of
refuelled
racial
tensions
to
an
extent,”
Burger
told
AFP.

“But
being
so
passionate
about
farming
was
the
motivator
for
me
to
move
forward,”
he
said.

Mupambawashe
moved
to
the
area
from
Bulawayo,
around
200
kilometres
away.

“When
we
first
came
here
in
2001,
it
was
a
forest
and
there
was
nothing
built,”
she
said.
“Some
of
the
white
farmers
were
angry
but
we
managed
to
talk
to
each
other
in
good
faith
and
move
forward.”

“They
never
let
us
down
and
said,
‘You
grabbed
the
farm,
let’s
see
if
you
can
do
it’.
But
instead
they
brought
their
own
tractors
and
equipment
to
come
and
help,
which
we
felt
was
a
nice
gesture.”

It
was
hard
in
the
beginning,
especially
after
irrigation
equipment
was
stolen,
and
the
early
failures
were
“embarrassing”,
Mupambawashe
said.

But
today
her
plot
does
so
well
that
she
only
needs
to
buy
in
sugar
and
cooking
oil.

Burger
leases
land
from
her
and
lends
tractors
and
expertise.

His
family’s
land
was
among
the
few
hundreds
that
were
not
seized
in
the
2000s.

Nonetheless,
“For
a
long
time
we
became
wound
up
in
compensation,”
said
Burger,
vice-president
of
the
Commercial
Farmers
Union
of
Zimbabwe
(CFU)
that
represents
mostly
white
farmers.

“But
it
wasn’t
our
purpose.
Our
purpose
was
driving
agriculture
and
current
agricultural
affairs
forward,”
he
said.

Compensation
frustration
This
year,
some
farm
owners
whose
land
was
confiscated
received
the
first
compensation
payments
after
decades
of
waiting.

The
process
has
been
complex
and
divisive.

The
government
committed
to
compensation
as
part
of
an
effort
to
settle
arrears
and
reform
the
economy
in
order
to
be
able
to
regain
access
to
international
credit
lines
cut
two
decades
ago.

It
announced
in
2020
the
creation
of
a
fund
that
would
pay
out
US$3.5
billion
for
infrastructure
on
farms
but
not
the
land,
which
it
says
was
taken
by
force
by
colonial
settlers.

Unable
to
raise
cash,
the
government
in
2023
changed
the
offer
to
one
percent
in
cash
and
the
remainder
in
US
dollar
denominated
treasury
bonds.

In
April,
the
first
payments
were
made
to
378
of
780
farmers
approved
for
this
scheme.

Deon
Theron,
who
represents
the
Compensation
Steering
Committee
group
of
former
white
farmers,
says
the
introduction
of
the
bonds
has
annulled
the
original
deal
and
negotiations
need
to
start
over.

The
bonds
are
“unsecured”
and
there
is
“limited
recourse
in
the
event
of
non-performance
by
government,”
he
told
AFP.

“The
general
feeling
amongst
the
farmers
is
firstly
frustration
that
after
20-odd
years
we
still
have
not
received
anything,”
Theron
said.

But
the
Property
and
Farm
Compensation
Association
said
its
members
would
take
what
is
on
offer.

The
bonds
are
under
international
guarantee,
said
leader
Harry
Orphanides,
adding
that
“digging
in”
and
seeking
more
from
the
government
would
be
futile.

Mupambawashe
and
Burger
are
encouraged
by
another
major
government
announcement
—
the
granting
of
land
ownership
rights
to
beneficiaries
of
the
2000s
land
reform.

The
tenure
announced
late
last
year
replaces
99-year
leases
and
means
the
new
owners
can
deal
with
the
property
as
they
wish,
including
putting
it
up
for
sale.

“It
makes
us
feel
settled,”
Mupambawashe
said.
“No
one
could
come
and
tell
us
to
move
off
the
land
or
take
it
away
from
us.”

“It
is
just
going
to
catapult
us
forward
as
a
nation
and
an
economy,”
Burger
said.
“We
used
to
be
the
breadbasket
of
Africa
and
we
lost
it
somewhat.
But
I
just
look
at
where
we
are
now.”
–
AFP

The
inquiry
seeks
to
establish
why
Mzembi
failed
to
attend
court
proceedings
back
in
2018,
where
he
was
facing
charges
of
criminal
abuse
of
office
and
theft
of
trust
property
during
his
time
as
a
government
minister.

Mzembi
was
ordered
by
the
State
to
provide
reasons
for
his
failure
to
attend
the
earlier
proceedings
when
he
appeared
in
court
on
Monday.

The
former
minister
was
arrested
on
Friday
by
officers
from
the
Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption
Commission
(ZACC).

He
made
an
initial
court
appearance
on
Saturday
and
was
remanded
in
custody.

The
court
is
now
expected
to
deliver
its
ruling
on
the
default
inquiry
on
Tuesday.

According
to
a
ZRP
statement
issued
on
June
16,
2025,
cases
of
vehicle
theft
are
becoming
increasingly
common,
occurring
in
residential
areas,
overnight
car
parks,
and
in
instances
where
vehicle
owners
leave
keys
in
unattended
vehicles.
Worryingly,
some
thefts
involve
motorists
who
offer
lifts
to
strangers.

ZRP
spokesperson
Commissioner
Paul
Nyathi
said
on
12
June
2025,
police
recorded
five
cases
of
vehicle
theft
in
Harare
and
Mashonaland
West,
involving
six
vehicles.

One
such
case
in
Avonlea,
Harare,
involved
unknown
suspects
breaking
into
company
premises
and
stealing
two
vehicles,
a
Toyota
Hilux
and
a
Mazda
BT50,
along
with
other
valuables
including
generators,
cement,
refrigerators,
solar
batteries,
money-counting
machines,
and
a
digital
camera.

Police
have
since
recovered
one
money-counting
machine
and
the
Toyota
Hilux,
which
was
found
abandoned
in
Majuru
Village,
Kutama.

Several
other
incidents
confirmed
by
the
ZRP
point
to
potential
negligence
on
the
part
of
vehicle
owners.
Said
Comm.
Nyathi:

In
another
incident
on
11th
June
2025,
at
around
2100
hours,
a
complainant
parked
his
Honda
Fit
vehicle
in
the
backyard
of
a
shop
at
Urugwe
Compound,
Mutorashanga.
He
left
the
keys
inside
the
car
and
retired
to
bed.
At
around
midnight,
he
woke
up
and
found
the
vehicle
missing.

On
the
same
date,
a
29-year-old
man
lost
his
Toyota
Fun
Cargo
vehicle
after
allowing
a
man,
only
known
as
Moses
Kachasu,
to
sleep
in
the
vehicle
at
his
residence
in
Chiedza,
Karoi.
The
complainant
had
taken
the
car
keys
to
his
room,
but
when
he
woke
up,
he
found
that
Moses
Kachasu
had
stolen
the
vehicle,
apparently
using
unknown
means
to
start
and
drive
the
vehicle
away.

On
11th
June
2025,
at
around
2200
hours,
a
45-year-old
complainant
parked
a
Nissan
Caravan
NV350
in
his
yard
in
Fairview
Park,
Ruwa.
He
locked
the
doors
and
retired
to
bed,
leaving
the
car
keys
on
top
of
the
wardrobe.
An
unknown
suspect
broke
into
the
house,
stole
the
keys,
other
household
goods
and
drove
away
in
the
complainant’s
vehicle.

In
a
separate
incident,
on
12th
June
2025
at
2000
hours,
another
complainant
left
his
unlocked
Honda
Fit
vehicle
at
the
corner
of
Leopold
Takawira
and
Samora
Machel
Avenue,
Harare
while
attending
to
other
business.
When
he
returned
at
around
2100
hours,
he
found
that
the
car
had
been
stolen.

Commissioner
Nyathi,
in
his
statement,
urged
motorists
to
be
“cautious,
vigilant,
alert,
secure
their
vehicles
properly
and
avoid
leaving
car
keys
in
unattended
vehicles.”