By Kovedzayi Takawira
Harare – Two transporters, Munashe Bauti and Tinashe Makaruse, are demanding US$100,000 in compensation from Feedmix (Pvt) Ltd, accusing the company of maliciously orchestrating their arrest on fraud charges that were later dismissed by the courts.
Through their lawyer, David Ngwerume, the duo wrote to Feedmix on July 15, 2025, demanding payment for damages arising from what they described as wrongful arrest, public defamation, and financial loss.
“Our instructions are that we demand, as we hereby do, payment in the sum of $100,000 being compensation for malicious prosecution which you caused to be instituted against Bauti and Makaruse under Case # HREP 2412/3/23. The sum being split to $50,000 each on behalf of our clients,” Ngwerume stated in the letter.
Bauti and Makaruse were arrested on March 7, 2023, and detained at Harare Central Police Station before appearing at the Harare Magistrates Court the following day.
They were acquitted on June 9, 2025, after the court found no evidence to support the four counts of fraud leveled against them.
According to Ngwerume, the case collapsed at the close of the State’s case, with court proceedings allegedly confirming that the charges were maliciously motivated. He accused Feedmix’s Head of Corporate Security, Josphat Mutipforo, of unlawfully detaining the two men for seven hours before handing them over to the police.
“Our clients were deprived of their liberty, detained in inhumane and degrading conditions, and publicly labeled as fraudsters following a Daily News article published online on March 10, 2023,” the letter continued.
“They were merely carrying out their duties as transporters and even identified the individual who had hired them, but Feedmix ignored this crucial information.”
The duo also claimed they suffered reputational harm, were ridiculed within their communities, and lost over two years of productive time attending court proceedings.
Ngwerume gave Feedmix seven days to respond and pay the demanded compensation, warning of legal action should the company fail to comply.
Efforts to get a comment from Feedmix were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
