*By Fanuel Chinowaita*
*Chipinge, Chisumbanje* What began as a disturbing viral video quickly spiraled into a national scandal, drawing outrage from citizens, rights activists, and lawmakers.
The footage, which emerged on social media on the morning of May 16, showed uniformed security guards assaulting young girls alleged to have stolen sugar cane from Green Fuel plantations in Chisumbanje. The video captured the men whipping the girls on their buttocks, triggering immediate condemnation and calls for justice.
Green Fuel, one of Zimbabwe’s leading ethanol producers, swiftly responded. Speaking to The Wasu Post, the company’s Public Relations Officer, Merit Rumema, confirmed that the guards had been identified and handed over to the authorities.
“The video came to our attention in the morning, and we took immediate action,” Rumema said. “The guards were suspended as soon as they were identified. It is not company policy to use force on anyone, and we are conducting further internal investigations.”
The two accused, identified as Makina Ngwenya (38) and Munorwei Komondeya (32), were both employed as security guards at Green Fuel. The victims, believed to be schoolgirls from surrounding communities, have not yet been publicly identified. Rumema explained that the company was working with local stakeholders to determine which schools the girls might belong to, based on their uniforms.
The incident reportedly occurred on May 12 in Ward 26, Chipinge South. Member of Parliament for the area, Clifford Hlahlwayo, strongly condemned the violence.
“This act of abuse happened in our community,” he said. “It was perpetrated by one Makina on schoolchildren on their way home. I want to thank the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Chisumbanje for acting fast. As we speak, the culprits are behind bars.”
Ngwenya and Komondeya appeared before Magistrate Nickson Mangoti at the Chipinge Magistrates’ Court, where they were convicted and sentenced. Each received 12 months imprisonment, with 4 months suspended on condition of good behavior. The remaining 8 months were wholly suspended on the condition that they complete 280 hours of community service, Ngwenya at Ruakangari Primary School and Komondeya at Munepasi Primary School. The case was prosecuted by Thulani Zondwayo.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over the conduct of private security personnel in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. With Green Fuel being one of the largest employers in the region, community leaders are now urging the company to strengthen its oversight and ensure such abuse never happens again.