The
payout
follows
years
of
legal
battles
after
Mutimutema
sustained
serious
eye
injuries
caused
by
flying
glass
when
soldiers
fired
live
ammunition
into
a
building
housing
his
offices.
Mutimutema,
a
labour
law
specialist
who
was
working
for
the
Zimbabwe
Congress
of
Trade
Unions
(ZCTU)
at
the
time,
was
injured
on
1
August
2018,
during
nationwide
protests
over
delayed
election
results.
The
protests,
which
broke
out
in
central
Harare,
were
violently
suppressed
by
the
Zimbabwe
National
Army,
resulting
in
the
deaths
of
at
least
six
civilians
and
injuries
to
dozens
more.
While
Mutimutema
was
inside
his
office
at
Gorlon
House,
a
bullet
fired
by
soldiers
shattered
a
window,
sending
shards
of
glass
into
his
eyes.
He
was
left
partially
blind
and
has
since
undergone
three
unsuccessful
surgeries
to
remove
the
fine
particles
embedded
in
his
eyes.
Mutimutema
sued
Defence
Minister
Oppah
Muchinguri-Kashiri,
Home
Affairs
Minister
Kazembe
Kazembe,
and
Police
Commissioner-General
Godwin
Matanga
(formerly
Stephen
Mutamba),
seeking
compensation
for
pain,
suffering,
and
medical
expenses.
He
was
represented
by
human
rights
lawyer
Obey
Shava
of
the
Zimbabwe
Lawyers
for
Human
Rights
(ZLHR).
Although
the
High
Court
had
initially
awarded
him
ZWL$295,000
in
November
2020,
the
amount
had
become
virtually
worthless
due
to
inflation.
Mutimutema
successfully
applied
to
amend
his
claim
to
US
dollars,
citing
the
devaluation
of
the
local
currency
and
ongoing
medical
costs.
On
29
July
2025,
the
Ministry
of
Defence,
led
by
Muchinguri,
agreed
to
settle
the
matter
by
paying
Mutimutema
US$25,000
as
compensation
for
current
and
future
medical
expenses,
pain
and
suffering,
and
general
damages.
According
to
the
ZLHR,
the
case
adds
to
growing
criticism
over
the
government’s
handling
of
the
aftermath
of
the
2018
shootings.
A
Commission
of
Inquiry
chaired
by
former
South
African
President
Kgalema
Motlanthe
had
recommended
compensation
for
victims
and
prosecution
of
perpetrators.
However,
to
date,
no
known
prosecutions
have
been
made,
and
only
a
handful
of
victims
have
received
compensation.