But police yesterday denied the charge, saying the
deceased, Tatenda Pasinyore Nyale, of Mtapa, Gweru, died in a cell after
injuring himself while trying to flee from custody.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi, confirmed the death, but denied that the man was killed by police. “People
should desist from blaming police where there is no evidence at all.
“It’s not necessary to create hatred for the police because
investigations are pointing to other causes of death. Police reacted to a call
where a man was stoning houses and gates.
“They attempted to arrest this man, who was very violent
and evasive, but he scaled walls and fell from one gate. He rose and continued
running away from the law officers,” he said.
Nyathi said Nyale was eventually arrested and found in
possession of drugs, whose influence he was under.
“We have witnesses who saw him attacking police and scaling
walls. Eventually he was arrested and put in cells where there were two other
people. He became sick and called for help,” he said.
Nyathi said the man was then taken to hospital where he was
pronounced dead upon arrival. “We are asking people to allow investigations to
take their course and not stir public emotions,” he said.
However, Nyale’s relatives and neighbours insist that he
was a victim of police brutality.
It is understood that Nyale met his fate when he was
approached by a group of policemen enforcing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
The relatives alleged that the police asked him what he was
doing outside, after which they beat him until his death.
Neighbours yesterday posted on social media alleging that
police were barring them from seeing Nyale’s remains.
“The Mutapa residents’ group wants to advise you that
Tatenda Pasinyore Nyale was bludgeoned to death by the police.
“They are refusing us permission to view his remains and we
don’t know what to do,” posted a woman on social media.
Yesterday residents of Gweru launched a website called
“Justice for Nyale”, where they are petitioning against police brutality.
Newsday
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