Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
CHISUMBANJE-BASED giant ethanol producer, GreenFuel and its three employees have been slapped with a US$110 000 lawsuit by 11 schoolchildren who were early this year physically assaulted by the firm’s security guards.
The schoolchildren being represented by Mr Tatenda Sigauke and Ms Peggy Tavagadza from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have approached the Chipinge Civil Court, demanding US$10 000 each for loss of dignity, emotional trauma and public humiliation after they were assaulted on their backsides for allegedly stealing sugarcane from GreenFuel fields.
In the application, it is argued that the three security guards — Makina Ngwenya, Benjamin Dube and Munorwei Gomondera — acted under the instructions of their employer when they assaulted the children, and filmed the assault, before releasing the videos which went viral on various social media platforms.
“The plaintiff’s claims are for damages arising from the unlawful assault and ill-treatment perpetrated against them by Makina Ngwenya, Benjamin Dube and Munorwei Gomondera in course and scope of their employment as security personnel of GreenFuel Private Limited.
“The facts giving rise to the claim are that sometime in February and April 2025 at a GreenFuel property, the plaintiffs who are learners, whilst on their way from school at Katanga Secondary School were wrongfully and unlawfully assaulted by Ngwenya, Dube and Gomondera on allegations of stealing sugarcane from the GreenFuel fields.
“The security guards in common purpose and intention, and on different occasions caused the plaintiffs to lie down on their bellies, and used a switch to beat them several times on their buttocks and all over their bodies. Dube recorded the videos of the assault, and the videos went viral on various social media platforms. Ngwenya was charged over the same at Chipinge Magistrates’ Court on June 2, 2025.
“He was duly convicted and sentenced on his own admission after tendering a plea of guilty. The plaintiffs were injured as a result, and experienced swollen buttocks, and were not able to properly walk for some time. They did not receive medical attention because they had no money for medical expenses.
“As a result of the defendant’s actions, the plaintiffs experienced pain and suffering, both physical and psychological, contumela, in that the minor’s dignity and bodily integrity were violated. Shock and emotional trauma, physical harm, emotional distress and public humiliation. The assault was particularly traumatising due to the plaintiffs’ ages and the viral effect of the videos online.
“At all material times, the security guards involved in the assault and ill treatment of the plaintiffs were acting within the course of their employment with, and/or under the control or instructions of GreenFuel. As such, GreenFuel is vicariously liable for the actions of the security guards. To date, the defendants have not sought to engage the plaintiffs to offer an apology or any form of compensatory relief to plaintiffs,” reads the summons.
In addition to monetary compensation, the victims are also asking the court to direct GreenFuel to issue a public apology in newspapers, radio stations and on its notice boards acknowledging its wrong actions.
“Wherefore plaintiffs’ claim against the defendants is the payment of the sum of being general damages of US$10 000 to each of the plaintiffs. Interest on the above sum at the prescribed rate of interest from date of issue of summons to date of full payment and an order directing GreenFuel to issue a public apology to the plaintiffs, their guardians and the community of Chisumbanje in the following terms or to like effect: “GreenFuel (Private) Limited, sincerely and unreservedly apologise to the schoolchildren, their families and the community of Chisumbanje for the wrongful and unlawful assault perpetuated by our security personnel on minor children who were alleged to have stolen sugarcane from our fields in February 2025. We acknowledge that the actions of our employees caused fear, pain and dignity, particularly to minors and that such conduct was unacceptable, unjustified and contrary to the respect owed to the member of the community. We retract and denounce the said conduct and we commit ourselves to taking all necessary measures to ensure that such acts do not recur.”
“The apology should be published in a newspaper circulating within Manicaland Province within 14 days of judgement at the defendant’s cost. Announced publicly on a community radio station once every day for five days and posted on GreenFuel’s social media platforms and company notice boards for a continuous period of 14 days,” demanded the lawyers.
By the time of going to print, the security guards and GreenFuel were yet to file their responses to the lawsuit.
