Oppah Muchinguri denies contempt of court over compensation delay

Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri has denied allegations of contempt of court regarding a failure to pay US$25,000 in compensation to Zakeyo Mutimutema. Mutimutema, a former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions employee, sustained severe eye injuries during army shootings during post-election protests on August 1, 2018.

Muchinguri argues that the delay is not a result of willful disobedience but is pending approval from Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and the Treasury. She has requested that the Finance Minister be joined to the legal proceedings, stating that her office has already instructed the Treasury to facilitate the settlement.

The High Court had previously ordered the payment following an agreement between the parties. Muchinguri currently faces a potential six-month prison sentence if the committal application proceeds without the payment being fulfilled.