HARARE – Two Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers had their household property seized and auctioned Friday to recover US$5,702 worth of damages claimed by a Harare resident who was brutally assaulted by the pair January last year.

Alex Tendai Gombedza successfully sued Michael Nduna and Florence Chihambakwe in their personal capacity, accusing them of causing “residual disability” as a result of the physical abuse.

The civil suit was filed with assistance from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

L.M Auctioneers conducted the sale in Harare’s Prospect industrial area.

“The property to be auctioned to recover a debt belonging to Harare resident Alex Tendai Gombedza, includes a deep freezer, a Samsung television set and a set of sofas,” ZLHR said Friday.

Gombedza was severely assaulted and tortured together with his friend Evidence Kutsawa.

The two civilians were accused of passing through Chikurubi Prison garden, an area the officers said was prohibited for any movement without authority.

The abuse elicited a suit in August last year by Gombedza who claimed US$5,702 from the prison guards.

Gombedza also cited Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and ZPCS Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu, among the respondents.

During trial at Harare Civil Court, ZLHR’s Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Paidamoyo Saurombe said the officers had ordered Gombedza and Kutsawa to lie down on the ground before assaulting them on their feet using wooden pick handles.

After the assault, the officers instructed some prisoners whom they were supervising to also assault the duo.

As a result of the abuse, Gombedza and Kutsawa sustained severe injuries and had to seek medical attention.

Gombedza sustained injuries on his legs and feet.

He sought treatment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

ZLHR says Gombedza “suffered excruciating pain on his feet, which he still feels to date”.

According to a medical report, Gombedza suffered 3 percent residual disability as a result of the attack.

During the court hearing, lawyers argued that their client “felt greatly humiliated, embarrassed, dehumanised and degraded with the assaults and ill-treatment” as a result of the attack.

The human rights lawyers stated that “Nduna and Chihambakwe treated Gombedza as if he was a dangerous criminal yet he was unarmed and posed no security threat whatsoever”.

Lawyers also argued that there was no justification for excessive use of force against the two as they had not committed any offence.

In the end, Nduna and Chihambakwe were ordered to pay compensation for the abuse.