adminShamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
A 25-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man, who was fined for impersonating a police officer on Wednesday, was back in court yesterday facing a charge of physical abuse. Collen Maponga, employed by Clarion Insurance Brokers, slapped and choked his girlfriend Lisa Dube twice after they argued when she discovered that he was married.
Maponga appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze facing a count of physical abuse.
He pleaded guilty and Msipa-Marondedze fined him $100.
In default of payment, Maponga will spend 30 days in jail.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on December 4 last year, at around midday, the couple had a misunderstanding after Dube found out Maponga was married.
He said Dube demanded $65 which Maponga owed her.
“This didn’t go down well with Maponga who slapped the complainant twice before choking her,” said Mageza.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Maponga’s arrest.
On Wednesday, Maponga was fined $100 by the same magistrate for impersonating a police officer.
In that case, the court heard that Maponga would show his landlord a police identity card to avoid paying rent. He picked up the card some time ago.
His luck ran out when his landlord, Edward Mahachi, approached Western Commonage police seeking help to confirm whether Maponga was a police officer.
The prosecutor told the court that police proceeded to his place of residence and identified themselves.
“Maponga identified himself as Brian Takudzwa Manyika, a police officer based at Guruve police station,” said Mageza.
Police conducted a body search and found a police identification card belonging to Manyika, the court heard.
Online Reporter