Class action as pupils sue for US$110,000 over assault by Green Fuel security guards 

By Thandiwe Garusa 

ELEVEN Chipinge schoolchildren are suing ethanol producing firm, Green Fuel, and its security guards for over US$100,000 after they were assaulted earlier this year on allegations of stealing sugarcane.

The three security guards are Makina Ngwenya, Benjamin Dube and Munorwei Gomondera.

In a viral video on social media earlier this year, the children were filmed lying down on their bellies while one of the guards flogged them.

Parents and guardians of the school children, who are aged between 13 and 17 years, through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), filed summons at Chipinge Magistrates Court Friday against the three security guards and their employer for unlawful assault and ill-treatment.

According to the children’s lawyers, Peggy Tavagadza and Tatenda Sigauke, the minors sustained serious injuries from the beatings.

“The children sustained injuries from the assault and experienced swollen backsides and were not able to walk properly for some time.

“They experienced shock, pain and suffering both physical and psychological, emotional trauma and distress, contumelia and suffered public humiliation while their dignity and bodily integrity was violated.

“The assault was grievous and psychologically traumatising due to the students’ young ages and the viral effect of the videos, which circulated on online platforms,” the lawyers said.

Sigauke and Tavagadza also want the court to order Ngwenya, Dube, Gomondera and Green Fuel to pay a total of US$110 000, which entails payment of US$10 000 to each student, for damages for pain and suffering, shock, trauma, contumelia and violation of dignity.

The human rights lawyers are also demanding that Green Fuel publicly apologizes to the learners, their families, and the Chisumbanje community, condemn the guards’ actions, and commit to preventing similar abuses in future.

The legal team also wants Green Fuel’s apology published in a local Manicaland newspaper, aired daily on Vemuganga Community Radio for five days, and displayed on the company’s social media and notice boards for 14 days.