Gokwe cop seized from CAB3 public hearing, driven away and beaten up

By Auther Chimbgwa

A Gokwe police officer was kidnapped from a Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 public hearing at a Nembudziya business centre venue, bundled onto a car and driven to a secluded area away from the venue where his six captors who posed as security agents beat him up.

Four gang members were later identified and arrested while two are still to be accounted for.

The four were named as Isheunesu Benjamin Marima (30), Collin Masawi (44), Wonder Gamba (43) and Edwin Chinongwa (32) following their arrest.

The incident, according to a statement by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) spokesperson Detective Inspector Rachael Muteweri, happened on 31 March this year at around 10am when the police operative, who had been deployed on CAB-3 public hearing duties, was approached by Marima, who introduced himself as security personnel.

Marima requested to speak to the police officer outside the venue, purporting to be interested in knowing issues relating to the proceedings at the public hearing.

Whilst outside the venue, Marima forcibly bundled the law enforcement agent onto a motor vehicle which had his other accomplices inside.

The four then drove to Maselukwe area in Gokwe North where they stopped at a secluded place and took turns to assault him.

Strangely, the gang had the courtesy to drive back to where they took the police, to dump him there.

“Investigations were instituted leading to the arrest of the four and the subsequent recovery of a Toyota Hilux Registration Number AGE 0792 and a Ford Ranger Registration Number AGE 5681, which were used in the commission of the crime,” said Muteweri, who did not mention the motive behind the attack.

The four who were arrested appeared before Gokwe Regional Magistrate Stanford Mambanje who convicted and handed them seven year jail sentences each.

“Meanwhile, the ZRP is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of the outstanding suspects, Erickson Mafuratidze and another one only identified as Mujudha,” said Muteweri.

“Anyone with information should contact the National Complaints Desk on 0242 703631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197 or report at any nearest police station.”

Muteweri warned the public to desist from attacking police officers on duty and engaging in acts of kidnapping, adding, “The law will take its course without fear or favour.”