Tortured MDC activists claim Z$3.8 trillion in damages

By Tichaona Sibanda
12 October 2007

Tortured Movement for Democratic Change activists, accused by the government of petrol-bombing public institutions in March this year, have sued the State for a record 3.8 trillion dollars.

A statement released by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on Friday said the separate claims for damages by 34 opposition activists arising from unlawful arrest, detention without trial, assault, torture and denial of food as well as medical attention came after the state withdrew charges against them last week for lack of evidence.

Among those detained for four months were Morgan Komichi, the MDC’s deputy organizing secretary, Denis Murira, Paul Madzore, MDC MP for Glenview and Ian Makoni, the director of elections.

The statement added that the civil suit prepared by their lawyer Alec Muchadehama, Makoni, Murira and Komichi are each claiming $130 million as damages against the State while Madzore wants the authorities to pay him $110 million.

The state had alleged that the MDC activists had attended terrorist training programmes and were responsible for the bombing of a Marimba Police Station among other public institutions.