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Plaxcedes Hove Court Reporter—
A FORMER police officer is in a coma at Mpilo Central Hospital after he was hit by a brick by a soldier while trying to restrain him from assaulting an unidentified girl in Old Pumula suburb in Bulawayo. Prosecutors say Rodger Nzima, 67, a former police officer who is now a member of the neighbourhood watch committee, sustained serious injuries after he was hit with a brick by Ernest Kamtande, a soldier stationed at Imbizo Barracks.
Western Commonage magistrate Willard Moyo heard that Nzima is admitted to Mpilo’s intensive care unit since July 3 following the attack.
Kamtande, 24, who is facing assault charges, was yesterday not asked to plead.
Prosecuting, Kingstone Mkanganwi said on July 3 at around 7PM in Old Pumula, Nzima saw Kamtande and his accomplices assaulting a girl.
He produced a police identity card and tried to restrain the trio but they resisted.
The court heard that Kamtande confronted Nzima and hit him with a brick on the head and he fell down.
Kamtande and his friends then disappeared from the scene leaving Nzima lying unconscious, the court heard.
He was only rescued by a passerby who called an ambulance which rushed him to Mpilo Central Hospital.
Moyo remanded Kamtande in custody to August 1.
“The state cannot grant you bail because we don’t know the condition of Nzima. The charges you are facing are serious hence you will be in custody,” said Moyo.
Online Reporter