Epworth men jailed for assaulting policeman

up a policeman who had refused to release their detained relative.
Takunda Musamwiri (19) and Sean Mukungwe (18) were convicted of assault by Harare magistrate Ms Paida Mukumbiri because of overwhelming evidence.
Their relative Cephas Mhlanga (24) who was detained at Epworth Police Station also faces the same fate after he teamed up with the duo to assault Constable Stephen Marapate who sustained serious injuries on his head, back and arm.
In mitigation yesterday, the trio blamed their actions on beer. Ms Mukumbiri sentenced them to 18 months in jail apiece before suspending four months for each for five years on condition they do not commit a similar offence within that period. In passing the sentence, Ms Mukumbiri said Musamwiri and Mukungwe had committed a serious offense by assaulting law-enforcers.
“You are a disgrace to the society. You portrayed the highest degree of being disrespectful to law enforcers.
“Your case must be an eye opener to all would-be offenders that police officers are there to maintain peace and order in the country and hence must not be assaulted,” she said. Appearing for the State, Ms Constance Ngombengombe told the court that Mhlanga was arrested on April 4 this year.
The following day around 9pm, Musamwiri and Mukungwe stormed the police station demanding his release. Constable Marapate who was on duty in the company of members of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee refused to release him since his case was due for court.
Musamwiri and Mukungwe began to bang the station’s wooden walls in protest and upon sensing danger, the neighbourhood watch committee members fled leaving Const Marapate alone. The duo began assaulting Const Marapate as he lay helplessly on the ground while all the suspects who were in custody escaped from the holding cells including Mhlanga who then joined Musamwiri and Mukungwe to further assault Const Marapate.
The trio went on a rampage and also damaged the door and walls of the police station and later fled. They were, however, arrested the following day.