Eleven students from Chipinge are seeking over US$100,000 in compensation from ethanol producer Green Fuel and three of its security guards, following an alleged assault incident earlier this year. The students, aged between 13 and 17, claim they were beaten after being accused of stealing sugarcane.
The guards identified in the case are Makina Ngwenya, Benjamin Dube, and Munorwei Gomondera.
The incident gained public attention after a video circulated widely on social media, showing the children lying on the ground as one of the guards beat them.
Through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the students’ parents and guardians filed a lawsuit at the Chipinge Magistrates Court. Lawyers Peggy Tavagadza and Tatenda Sigauke are representing the minors and argue that the beatings resulted in serious injuries.
“The children suffered painful swelling, difficulty walking, and psychological trauma due to the assault,” the legal team stated. “The experience caused not just physical harm but also emotional distress, humiliation, and damage to their dignity—especially considering the video’s viral spread online.”
The lawsuit demands US$10,000 in damages per student, totaling US$110,000. The claim covers compensation for pain, suffering, trauma, and violation of rights.
Additionally, the lawyers are asking the court to compel Green Fuel to issue a formal apology to the students, their families, and the broader Chisumbanje community. They are also requesting that the apology be broadcast on Vemuganga Community Radio for five consecutive days, published in a local Manicaland newspaper, and displayed on Green Fuel’s social media platforms and notice boards for two weeks
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