Bedlam at police station: Bulawayo man fined $120 for insulting police officers over missing son case

A BULAWAYO man has been fined US$120 after insulting police officers at Pumula Police Station following a report he had filed about his missing son.

Simbarashe Gurajena (54) of Mpopoma suburb was convicted on his own plea of guilty to disorderly conduct in a public place by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Mehluli Moyo.

He was sentenced to four months in prison, with two months suspended for three years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period. The remaining two months were suspended on condition that he pays a US$120 fine or its equivalent in local currency through the Clerk of Court by 30 March.

In passing the sentence, Mr Moyo took into account Gurajena’s age and the stress he may have been under due to his missing child. However, the magistrate emphasised the importance of deterrent measures to curb the rising trend of violent behaviour.

“The court wants to send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated in the community. This sentence serves as a deterrent to both the accused and others who may engage in similar offences,” said Mr Moyo.

Prosecuting, Mrs Ellen Matenga said the offence was committed on 11 January 2025 at Pumula Police Station when Gurajena unlawfully and intentionally engaged in disorderly conduct by banging on the crime office door while shouting at the police officers.

“Gurajena was shouting at the police in Shona, saying, ‘Mapurisa imi munongohora mari dzatinokutambirisai mahara, hamusi kuda kutsvaga mwana wangu, ibasa renyu,’ which translates to, ‘You police officers are getting paid for nothing from our tax money, yet you do not want to look for my son when it is your duty,'” said Mrs Matenga.

The court heard that Gurajena went on to insult one Assistant Inspector Ngwenya, saying in a mixture of Shona and English, “Iwewe ndiwe unotengesera vana vedu madrugs, that’s why you don’t want to open a report,” meaning, “You are the one selling drugs to our children, that’s why you do not open reports.”

In his defence, Gurajena stated that he was stressed as he had reported his missing son but had not received any response from the police.