Senior Gweru police officer acquitted in assault case

A SENIOR police officer based in Gweru, who was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, has been acquitted after the court found that the complainant fabricated the charges in an alleged bid to seek revenge after he refused to marry her.

Arnoby Mapera (44), of ZRP Mkoba Police Camp appeared before Gweru magistrate Mr Blessing Makaripe facing assault charges.

In acquitting Mapera, Mr Makaripe ruled that the allegations had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The court heard that the complainant, Ms Benhilda Furusa, allegedly became enraged after Mapera ended their relationship and began dating another woman.

Through his lawyer, Mr Esau Mandipa of Mandipa, Makwara and Chikukwa Legal Practice, Mapera told the court that sometime last year, Furusa visited his house for a sleepover but later refused to leave, insisting that she was now his wife.

Mapera said he then moved out of the house, leaving Furusa behind.

“Thereafter, she would frequently visit my workplace at Gweru Central Police Station uninvited and embarrass me in front of my colleagues, demanding marriage,” he told the court.

Mapera further testified that Furusa once travelled from Gweru to his rural home at Lowlands Farm, Plot 21, Marondera, where she introduced herself to his relatives as his wife.

“She was not welcomed by my relatives and due to frustration over the failed marriage demands, she began threatening me, boasting that she would ensure I was discharged from the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” he said.

The court heard that after Mapera entered into a new relationship, Furusa allegedly began harassing his new girlfriend while continuing to pursue marriage with him.

“After all the threats and harassment, I applied for a peace order against Furusa, which was granted. It was after this that she decided to fabricate the assault allegations,” Mapera said.

He added that Furusa initially reported a case of intimidation before later changing the report to assault.

Prosecuting, Ms Melodious Kavenga told the court that in October last year, Mapera and Furusa disembarked from a commuter omnibus at the ZRP Mkoba Police Camp gate after travelling from Gweru central business district.

“A misunderstanding arose after the complainant suspected the accused of having an extra-marital affair,” said Ms Kavenga.

The State alleged that Mapera slapped Furusa once on the face before a passerby intervened.

“The two then went home, where the accused allegedly continued assaulting the complainant with open hands all over the body. The complainant sustained no visible injuries and was medically examined,” said the prosecutor.

However, the court found the State’s case to be inconsistent and lacking credible evidence leading to Mapera’s acquittal.