19 Harare CBD assault police recruits denied bail

Michael Mashiri

Nineteen Zimbabwe Republic Police recruits stationed at ZRP Mkushi Depot alleged to have haphazardly assaulted people in the Harare central Business District have been ordered to appear in court tomorrow for continuation of bail application.

Tadiwanashe Machopa, 21, Nthandoyenkosi Nyathi, 21, Tinotenda Chakanyuka, 23, Brian Makiwa, 24, Benjamin Panashe Musina, 23, Tanaka Emmanuel Chivige, 24, Anesu Marufu, 23, Delight Dube, 23, Tendai Chidhakwa, 23, Nqoba Mahlangu, 22, Tinotenda Marimo, 22, Milton Mashavave, 23, Tanaka Keith Kaseke, 23, Blessing Gondogwe, 24, Kudakwashe Makuvaze, 22, Fortune Irvine Madzinganyama, 24, Takunda Chibwana. 24, Anymore Ndlovu, 24, and Pajeal Balance, 23, qere before magistrate Dennis Mangosi before the Harare Magistrates' Courts accused of public violence.

The State alleges that the accused used sticks and other unknown objects to assault people.

This was allegedly revenge because two of their trainee colleagues, Tanaka Keith Maseke and Anymore Ndlovu had been assaulted by an unknown person at Copacabana Bus Terminus in Harare that afternoon.

According to Davison Mungesi, the investigating officer in the matter, the assaults took plus or minus an hour.

“They were positively identified by the arresting detail. Upon realising that they had been seen, they ran away but were later caught. Two were caught. The other one was caught by the public that was being assaulted and was only rescued after the arrival of the police. Others were implicated by others who had been arrested," he added.

Some of the allegedly assaulted people sustained injuries.