via Cops attack citizens in Marondera 6 November 2014 by Nelson Sibanda
Unsuspecting residents of Marondera woke up on Tuesday morning to a surprise attack by riot police in the Central Business District.
Sources on the ground said over 30 police officers besieged the town, beating up anyone in sight including a two-year-old child and her father who were shopping. They were beaten with baton sticks and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
The attack was suspected to have been caused by the tense situation in Marondera and public anger at police following the murder of kombi driver Mogove Manonge, 30, by police over a bribe last weekend. His body was expected to pass through the town from Macheke to his rural home in Hwedza for burial.
“The attack was unprovoked as the victims were going about their personal shopping and other businesses in the town,” said a vendor identified as Angela. She said the town was almost deserted as people ran away for dear life.
Chief Sup Albert Nkoma of Marondera Police, whom The Zimbabwean was made to believe was in charge, refused to comment as he said he did not run the show.
“Who referred you to me for comment? I am not in charge of the district and neither do I have the authority to comment,” said Nkoma.
Snr Ass Com Charity Charamba, the police national spokesperson, professed ignorance about the disturbances. “I have not been briefed of the situation, so I cannot help,” she said in a telephone interview.
According to reliable police sources, Manonge was murdered by three police officers manning a roadblock at Bemba Farm along the Marondera-Murewa road who accused him of violating some road traffic rules and demanded a $10 bribe. He refused to pay, resulting in the cops bashing him. He died on the spot.
The three cops two male and one female were arrested and a case report noted (CR05/11/12). They are in custody and assisting with police investigations.
Afro barometer, a research project that measures public attitudes on socio-economic issues, found that Zimbabwe was the third most corrupt African country after Egypt and Nigeria. The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa a few years ago reported that Zimbabwe traffic police were the most corrupt in the region.
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