Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is seeking to overturn a High Court ruling that ordered her to compensate the widow of a Harare resident who was killed by soldiers during the August 2018 post-election protests.
In April this year, Justice Maxwell Takuva ordered Muchinguri-Kashiri to pay US$122,235 to Suspicious Ziyambi, the widow of Ishmael Kumire, who was shot and killed on 1 August 2018 in central Harare.
Kumire, a vendor, was among six civilians fatally shot when soldiers opened fire on demonstrators protesting against delays in the announcement of presidential election results.
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Ziyambi, represented by human rights lawyer Kudzayi Kadzere of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
Justice Takuva found that the killing was unlawful and awarded damages, including US$112,235 for loss of support to Ziyambi and her minor children, and US$10,000 for trauma and nervous shock.
However, Muchinguri-Kashiri has applied to have the judgment rescinded.
In her application, she argued that she only became aware of the default judgment on 13 August 2025 after Ziyambi’s lawyers served her with a copy.
She blamed her legal practitioner from the Attorney-General’s Office for failing to attend trial proceedings on 29 October 2024, suggesting the absence could have been due to technical challenges with the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS).
The Defence Minister insisted she should not be penalised for what she described as the “sins” of her lawyer.
She also disputed the damages awarded, describing the amount as excessive and unreasonable.
Muchinguri-Kashiri now wants the matter referred back to the Registrar of the High Court to be set down for hearing as an opposed case. Her application is yet to be scheduled for hearing.
