A 28-year-old man is battling for his life at Karoi
hospital after he was allegedly brutally assaulted by police officers while in
custody on Thursday over a traffic-related offence
Nomatter Mudimu was unable to talk when The Standard
visited him in hospital on Friday due to the injuries sustained in the assault.
The Standard only managed to speak to him yesterday and he
recounted a tale of gross police brutality.
Narrating his ordeal, Mudimu said he was assaulted by
police at Chikangwe Township where the cops pounced on him and also while in
their custody.
“It all started on Thursday morning when I was stopped by
police at a roadblock as I was coming from Mudzimu with my ailing sister who
was the passenger in my car,” he said.
“I told them I was rushing my critically ill sister to
hospital and could, therefore, not stay long at the roadblock but I assured
them that I would come back to them as soon as I took her to hospital.
“They followed me to Chikangwe where I had gone with my
sister to get her clothes before proceeding to hospital.
“The police started assaulting me, claiming I had resisted
arrest. They then arrested me and put me in police cells where I was further
assaulted. They used open hands, fists and a stick all over my body.”
Mudimu said he could not proceed with his sister Tariro to
the hospital and did not know what happened to her after his arrest.
His brother-in-law Evias Mandava was also arrested and was
in police custody at the time of going to press.
A neighbour who witnessed the assault said she was shocked
by the police officers’ violent behaviour.
According to sources, Mudimu’s condition deteriorated while
in police custody and they had to refer him to hospital for medical attention.
“It is true that we have a suspect who was assaulted in
police custody and is in hospital. The case is being investigated as senior
police officials in Chinhoyi have enquired about the incident.
“The issue cannot be swept under the carpet,” said a police
source who spoke on condition of anonymity. standard
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