A 30-YEAR-OLD man from Luveve suburb in Bulawayo who was
shot and injured by police while allegedly planning to loot Choppies
supermarket during January violent demonstrations has appeared in court.
Promise Mandizha Dube was allegedly part of a violent and
rowdy crowd that besieged the supermarket in Luveve suburb and attempted to
disarm a police officer resulting in the shooting.
Dube pleaded not guilty to public violence charges when he
appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Tinashe Tashaya, last Friday. The
magistrate remanded him out of custody to August 15.
In his defence, Dube said he happened to be at the crime
scene only because he wanted to light a cigarette and talk to some friends who
were near the supermarket.
“I was very unlucky to be at Choppies Supermarket during a
time when these demonstrations were happening. I only passed by the supermarket
with the intention to light a cigarette and chat with some of my friends who
were close by,” he said.
“I was shot on the back of my left thigh as I tried to run
away when police were shooting people. If I had intentions of burning down the
shop why then was l shot on the back of my left thigh and not the front? This
is evidence enough that I was in a crossfire and I am certain that this was not
my lucky day.”
Prosecuting, Mr Leonard Chile said on January 15 at around
1PM, the accused person together with a group of other accomplices were
demonstrating in front of Choppies Supermarket in Luveve suburb.
The group allegedly started throwing stones at police
officers who were guarding the supermarket.
“The police officers then fired one warning shot in the air
and the violent crowd dispersed,” Mr Chile said.
He said after about two hours, Dube came back to the
supermarket carrying two car tyres and placed them on the front door of the
supermarket.
The accused person then stuffed them with papers that were
scattered on the ground intending to set them alight.
Mr Chile said police officers ordered him to leave the
supermarket and not set it on fire but he refused and called for backup from
some of his accomplices. The crowd then approached police officers pelting them with
stones.
“One of the police officers fired three warning shots into
the air but the accused person continued to move towards him and tried to take
away the firearm but he failed to do so,” the prosecutor said.
He said a struggle ensued between the two until the police
officer gained full control of the firearm and shot Dube on the thigh. The crowd then retreated and police officers managed to
escape.
The prosecutor said on January 23, police officers received
information that the accused person was admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital as a
result of the injury he suffered when he was shot.
Police officers made way to the hospital where Dube was
arrested but he remained in hospital under police guard. Chronicle
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