HARARE – Police have been ordered to pay Z$4.3 million (US$35,833) to the family of a promising footballer who was shot dead during protests over sharp fuel price increases in January 2019.
Kelvin Tinashe Choto, 22, was shot in the head during protests in Chitungwiza on January 14.
Rights groups documented 22 other similar killings by security forces, while over 74 other people were left nursing gunshot wounds. None of the police officer or soldiers involved in the killings have been charged.
On Wednesday, Justice Edith Mushore ruled that Choto’s killing was unlawful, and awarded damages to his father Julius Choto and widow, Varaidzo Chiyanike.
The family sued the police, the home affairs minister and Constable Rachid Siri, who fired the fatal shot.
Harare lawyer Fiona Iliff of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights represented Choto’s family.
She said Kelvin was an “innocent bystander” as protesters clashed with police.
Talk Rights 