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.