GOVT PAID ZAVALE’S WIDOW E1.9M

MBABANE - Luciano Zavale’s widow was reportedly paid a sum of E1.9 million by government.

Laura Fransisco Malhanguani had instituted legal proceedings against government, where she was demanding E9 million for her and her five children’s support. The children were aged 19, 17, 14, 11 and eight. According to Laura, who was represented by Osborne Nzima, while still alive, her late husband took care of her and their children since she was unemployed. She submitted that she believed that the police officers had a legal duty to ensure that no harm befell her husband while in their custody. The widow submitted that the police allegedly caused the death of her husband by asphyxiation either intentionally or negligently. Laura demanded compensation from government for the support of Zavale’s family. The deed of settlement between the parties was made an order of the court by the High Court of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The inquest into the death of Zavale concluded that he died due to the alleged conduct of the investigating officers. The officers are Detective Constable Nhlanhla Nkambule and Detective Constable Ndumiso Myeni, who were based in Manzini in 2015 when the Mozambican man died. Former Hhohho Principal Magistrate Nondumiso Simelane, who is now the Ombudsman at Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), was appointed the coroner in the inquest into Zavale’s death after he died under questionable circumstances. The Mozambican ran a barber shop business at the Enterprise Building. At the time of his death, he was being investigated for purchasing an ASUS Tablet from Sifiso Nzimandze, who had stolen it from an American Peace Corp member, Taroi Hopkins at the Manzini Bus Rank in June 2015.

Satisfied

In her conclusion, Simelane said; “I am satisfied that reasonable grounds do exist for suspecting that the death of Luciano Reginaldo Zavale was caused by the criminal act and/or culpable or negligent conduct of the two investigating constables, being 6432 D/Constable Nhlanhla Nkambule and 5709 D/Constable Ndumiso Myeni.” Simelane said she referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who, subject to Section 9 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence No.67 of 1938, shall take such action on it as he deems fit. According to the coroner, it was clear from the evidence that when Zavale died, he was allegedly in the custody of members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service, in particular the two detective constables, Myeni and Nkambule.

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