Popular Harare entertainment joint, Globetrotter, was on Monday night turned into a war zone as scores of police officers in riot gear beat revellers, forcibly evicting tenants who operate and stay at the place.
The joint, located along Old Mazowe Road, founded by the late Dickson Sabau, which is a popular open air entertainment venue, includes a liquor centre, a cocktail lounge and accommodation among other facilities.
Chaos started around 18:00 hours when about dozens of police officers, reportedly sent by the late Sabau’s first wife, who is seeking full ownership of the venue stormed the facility.
The Daily News crew witnessed police officers armed with batons beating a group of passers-by while other officers blocked the entrance into the complex.
Another group of policemen was searching for revellers who had gone into hiding.
In the mayhem, another group of police officers was busy throwing goods out of the complex. Even refrigerators containing meat and beer bottles were also thrown out.
There was also widespread looting and the Daily News crew witnessed some satchels loaded with beer bottles hidden along the tarred road.
Contacted for comment, one of the late Sabau’s sons, Ngoni referred questions to his lawyer, Thomas Nyakunika of Mupindu Legal Practitioners.
Nyakunika said the violent police raid was part of a fight for the control of the late Sabau’s estate.
“It has been an ongoing wrangle of the family of the late Dickson Sabau. He had divorced his first wife and she subsequently left the property as a result of the divorce.
“Sabau later shot his second wife in a domestic dispute and he was jailed for some years. The first wife came back when he was in jail. When Sabau came out of jail, they were still not in good books with the first wife so he was pushing her to vacate the estate,” Nyakunika said.
He added that the late Sabau’s first wife’s was fighting to gain total control of Globetrotter even though the estate is still to be finalised.
“The execution of the estate is still to be finalised but shockingly the first wife influenced high offices to push Sabau’s children from the second marriage off the property.
“Police have abused the law as eviction is carried out by sheriffs; they are taking the law into their hands. They have beaten people here, threw out bar, butchery and kitchen furniture as well as looting beer. They were just doing as they please. That was clear criminal abuse of office,” Nyakunika said, adding: “Police acted without a court order because someone just sent them to harass and throw out citizens and tenants from premises.
“What is the purpose of the courts? The matter for eviction is before the court and being challenged under Case Number 19157 at Harare Civil Court. Summary judgment set for argument on November 28.”
Harare provincial spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police Simon Chazovachii professed ignorance about the raid at Globetrotter by the police.
“I am not aware of that incident,” he said before referring the Daily News to police deputy spokesperson chief superintendent Paul Nyathi whose mobile phone was not reachable. Efforts to get national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba were fruitless. Daily News
Thursday 2 November 2017
COPS RUN AMOK IN A HARARE ENTERTAINMENT JOINT
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