Munakopa's mother |
Paul Munakopa (35) from Matsheumhlope in Bulawayo, who was
in 2014 acquitted for fraud, died yesterday morning at United Bulawayo
Hospitals (UBH) where he had been rushed for treatment.
He died about five hours after he was shot by police.
Prior to the shooting Munakopa, who was driving a Honda Fit
vehicle, was allegedly parked in a secluded place with his girlfriend in
Malindela suburb, before being approached by a police patrol that included the
community’s neighbourhood watch committee.
Instead of complying with police orders to stop, Munakopa
allegedly sped off, leading to a high-speed chase that resulted in the fatal
shooting.
Police could not immediately reveal the time and distance
that was covered during the high-speed chase.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi yesterday described the incident as unfortunate, saying they will
release a comprehensive statement on the matter soon.
He said Munakopa’s Honda Fit was suspiciously parked in one
of the suburbs, prompting reaction from police and the neighbourhood watch team
on patrol.
“Remember we have a community policing programme in
Hillside where members of the public have partnered the police. So, it is this
team which comprises police and members of the community who were on patrol. In
the process they came across a suspiciously parked Honda Fit in a certain road
and the occupants were ordered to stop,” he said.
“But the driver drove away resulting in a high-speed chase
and in the process the driver later stopped, turned and hit (crashed against)
the police car. A big chase ensued which later resulted in a shoot-out and the
driver later died at the hospital.”
Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to comply with
police orders when approached.
He said the police also discovered that the couple was
naked.
“We will release a comprehensive statement later on but we
want to urge members of the public that if they commit criminal offences, they
should stop and allow due process of the law to be followed. Particularly
during this Covid-19 situation. We later discovered that the couple was naked
in the Honda Fit and we are now investigating the matter,” he said.
A Chronicle news crew visited Munakopa’s family who
expressed deep sadness following the death of their relative.
The family said regardless of who shot their son, they want
justice as no-one should be killed without being accounted for.
Munakopa’s mother, Mrs Erica Munakopa, said she was at a
loss of words following the death of her son.
“I’m devastated, I don’t even know what to say. I was
called by Paul’s girlfriend between 10PM and 11PM saying they have gotten into
trouble. She said Paul had been shot. I asked by who and she said by the
police. Why, she said she didn’t know. We rushed to where she said they were
but when we got there in Hillside suburb they were no longer there.
“We learnt that he had been rushed to United Bulawayo
Hospitals (UBH). When I got there my son was in excruciating pain. He was shot
on the shoulder and on the right arm. He was seriously bleeding and the bullet
went through his arm, the arm was almost broken. He died at 4AM,” said Mrs
Munakopa.
She said they suspect he died due to excessive bleeding.
Mrs Munakopa said while they do not know the exact
circumstances leading to the shooting, she believes police were not justified
in shooting him.
“What Tracy told us is that while they were parked outside
a home in Malindela suburb they saw a Prado with two white men and got worried
and Paul started driving away. She said they did not suspect the car had some
police officers in it as they had never seen police driving a Prado nor white
police officers.
“She said the vehicle started chasing after them until he
came to a stop. Then with no warning, police started shooting at the vehicle
and Paul was shot. The car had seven bullet holes,” she said.
Mrs Munakopa said the Zimbabwe Republic Police should
account for his son’s killer.
She said some police officers visited her at home and
admitted that Paul should not have been killed and told them that they will
engage the family later.
“This is murder, we want the police to arrest whoever shot
my son. We went to Hillside Police Station and we found the officer who shot
him at the police station. He didn’t show any remorse over his deeds. My son
has left behind a two-year-old daughter who needs his support,” she said.
Mrs Munakopa said Mufudzi was severely traumatised by the
incident and had to be hospitalised at UBH.
In February 2014, Paul, his brother Tafadzwa together with
their mother, were acquitted of defrauding nine people of more than $5 000 on
separate incidents in a deal to deliver stockfeed. Chronicle
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