adminManicaland Correspondent
A bogus police officer and his accomplice will spend a year behind bars after being convicted of assaulting two women whom they accused of stealing a cellphone. Simbarashe Kuudzehwe (26) and Jeffrey Kurima (22) appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe last week.
Kurima pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and was sentenced to one year in prison without the option of a fine.
Kuudzehwe, who is accused of pretending to be a police officer when the offence was committed, was remanded to April 19 after he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He admitted that he was wearing a police uniform and was in possession of handcuffs that did not belong to him on the day in question.
Mr Fletcher Karombe appeared for the State.
It is the State’s case that on February 21 this year, at Boka Business Centre in Mutare, Kurima and Kuudzehwe assaulted two women, Rudo Chitapata (37) and Anna Jimu (29), who were coming from the bottle store.
It is claimed that the pair accosted the two women, accusing them of stealing their cellphone.
“At that time of the night, the duo took the complainants hostage and went with them to Dangamvura High School, where they severely beat them up,” said Mr Karombe. “Kuudzehwe left the scene and came back after a short while, wearing a complete police uniform and holding a pair of handcuffs that he used to cuff Chipata and severely beat her up.”
Kuudzehwe, who claimed that he only intervened to stop the squabble, said he did not assault Chipata.
After the two women we released, they filed a police report, leading to the duo’s arrest.
A medical report was produced in court.
Meanwhile, a 73-year-old old-timer from Chitungwiza was last week caged for four years after being caught with 149 kilogrammes of dagga, reports our Chipinge correspondent Luthando Mapepa.
Peter Nyamitambo of house number 1026, Tangenhamo, St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, appeared before Chipinge magistrate Mr Poterai Gwezhira facing charges of unlawfully possessing dangerous drugs.
He pleaded guilty to the charge, while his five suspected accomplices – John Sithole (38), Chiwai Mlambo (41), McGrath Makore (48), Raymond Tsiga (31) and Shingirirai Jim (33) – pleaded innocent.
They were granted $50 bail each and are expected back in court on April 16.
The State, led by Mr Witness Nyamundaya, alleged that on March 31, around 2am, the accused persons were abode a Toyota Noah (registration number AEE 2691) that was being driven by Chiwai Mlambo and travelling along Mwangazi-Rimbi Road in Chisumbanje.
They were reportedly stopped by members of the Zimbabwe National Army – Prince Jonas, Aaron Kopo and Tisesto Chasvimba – who were on border patrol duties.
The accused persons were searched and nine 50kg bags stuffed with dagga were recovered from the motor vehicle.
The bags were taken to Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Chipinge where they were weighed in the presence of the accused persons.
They were subsequently produced in court as evidence.
Mr Gwezhira slapped Nyamitambo with a total of eight years imprisonment, but four years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
Online Reporter