Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A 29-YEAR-OLD Mutare man may be regretting assaulting a police officer on camera after he was remanded in custody, and told to return to court on July 13, 2026 for a trial.
Brenton Tsakatsa, of House Number 1285, Chikanga 1, Mutare, who was represented by Mr Passmore Gwizo, of Mugadza and Chinzamba Legal Practitioners, appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mrs Anne Ndiraya last Friday, facing assaulting or resisting a police officer charges as defined in Section 176 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
He pleaded not guilty.
The charge arises from an incident that occurred on June 29, at around 10.20am at Apex Service Station in Mutare, where Tsakatsa allegedly unlawfully and intentionally assaulted, or by violent means resisted, police officer, Constable Maxwell Mkumbuzi, who was acting in the course of his duties, knowing him to be a police officer or realising there was a real risk or possibility that he was a police officer.
Mr Chris Munyuku prosecuted.
He told the court that on June 29, at around 10.20am at Apex Service Station, the complainant was on duty enforcing “Operation No to Mushika-shika” in the company of Constable Machazi and Constable Mazambara.
He said the complainant approached the accused, who was driving an AD vehicle, Registration Number AHH 5611, while uttering “One asara”, and advised him, while standing in front of the vehicle, that he was under arrest for touting.
The accused stopped his vehicle, disembarked and approached the complainant, before assaulting him several times with open hands.
As a result of the assault, the complainant dropped a baton stick, which he was holding, and the accused picked it up and struck the complainant twice on the head, and once on the left arm.
Mr Munyuku said Tsakatsa proceeded to his vehicle and drove off after noticing Constable Machazi approaching him.
The complainant sustained injuries and was medically examined.
A medical affidavit can be produced in court as evidence. Mr Munyuku argued that Mkumbuzi was acting lawfully at the time of the assault.
