Mutare police top brass war spills into court

Mutare Urban District Chief Superintendent Joseph Chani filing a US$250 000 defamation lawsuit against his boss.
Chief Supt Chani has issued summons against Senior Assistant Commissioner Munorweyi Shava Matutu, the Officer Commanding Manicaland Province.

He is demanding the money for defamation following an article that appeared in a local newspaper.
Chief Supt Chani argues that the article that was published in the Manica Post at the instigation of his boss and maliciously portrayed him as an overzealous officer who had tarnished the image of the force in Mutare.

The two work together in the province and chief Supt Chani reports to Snr Asst Comm Matutu.
Through his lawyers Thondhlanga and Associates, Chief Supt Chani stated in the court papers that the statements by his boss were highly defamatory and that it damaged his persona in the community he controls.

He said the statements were wrongful, malicious and defamatory.
“The defendant maliciously referred to the plaintiff as an officer who was not doing his duties properly and was against the whole community of Mutare.
“Defendant also referred to plaintiff as an overzealous officer and had caused acrimonious relationship between the police and the courts.

“The written statements caused by the defendant were understood to mean that the plaintiff does not have the community at heart, is not a proper candidate to be the officer commanding Mutare Urban District.
“He was portrayed as an overzealous person who had tarnished the name of the ZRP in Mutare as he acted in a manner, which had strained the relations between ZRP and the courts,” read part of the summons.

The said article according to the summons was published in the Manica Post of May 20 to 26 this year.
According to the newspaper article on the front page, Snr Asst Comm Matutu was expressing his concern over the bad relations between the police and the courts in Mutare in an interview with Manica Post.

According to the article, Snr Asst Comm Matutu did not mention the name of any officer, but said the acrimony between the force and the courts almost degenerated into a mini-war but said it was caused by an overzealous member of the police.
Senior Asst Comm Matutu is yet to respond to the application.