The victims, Tashinga Mugwara and Pamela Muchazorwei were
seriously injured after they were hit by a stray bullet fired by the police.
After the shooting incident, national police spokesperson
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi produced a statement which read: “Police received a tip-off and located the
suspect at Taita Shops. The suspect noticed detectives approaching and drew a
pistol from his jacket (and pointed) it to the detectives. In response, the
detectives fired a warning shot into the air and later shot towards the suspect
(but) missed him.”
Nyathi said later the police officers discovered that the
missed shot had actually hit Mugwara and Muchazorwei who are now nursing wounds
at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
However, an eyewitness (name withheld), who ferried
Muchazorwei to the hospital, told NewsDay Weekender that the police had come to
raid a suspected drug base at Taita Shops, in Unit O, Chitungwiza and did not
fire warning shots.
“No warning shots were fired and this happened at around
4:30pm on Tuesday at the popular base,” the witness said.
“Police officers came in civilian clothes and ordered
everyone to lie down. People started to run away out of fear. I then heard a
gunshot and screaming afterwards. I don’t know if the shot was deliberate or a
mistake.”
The witness said the police officers then fled from the
angry mob at the scene.
“Two officers rushed into their car and fled the scene
because tempers were beginning to flare. People tried to stop them, and chasing
their car on foot but this was futile,” the witness added.
Tashinga’s relative, who requested anonymity, accused the
police of trying to cover up their mess.
“Tashinga tried to run away after being shot and collapsed
50 meters away. I thought it was just a routine raid on the drug base,” he
said.
The eyewitnesses said, in fact, three people were hit by
the police bullet, but the third victim was in hiding for fear of getting
arrested for being at a known drug base.
In a tweet on Thursday, police said they were aware of the
residents’ complaints.
“The ZRP is aware of the complaints by the residents of
Chitungwiza in connection with the incident where two people were shot. Police
assures the public that investigations on the alleged misconduct by the police
will be thoroughly done and nothing will be swept under the carpet,” police
tweeted.
Nyathi yesterday told NewsDay Weekender: “We are
investigating that case and I can assure you that if there was any misconduct
by our officers that will be taken to account. We will not sweep anything under
the carpet. We will shed more light as
investigations continue. We want people
with information to bring it forward so that it can assist in our
investigations.”
Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights yesterday said they assisted to secure the release of three
Institute for Young Women’s Development team members who were arrested by
police for allegedly convening an unsanctioned meeting in Bindura.
The three — Sandra Zenda, Kudakwashe Munemo and Onai
Chitakunye — were arrested on Wednesday and detained at Bindura police station
before they were charged with contravening section 7(1)(b) as read with section
5 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act. The trio was represented by rights
lawyers Idirashe
Chikomba, Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Blessing Nyamaropa.
They were arrested at a meeting which was attended by 80
people at a lodge in Bindura without giving notice in writing to Chief
Superintendent Gladman Chiparaushe, the police officer commanding Bindura
district, for approval.
Victor Morrison, who had also been arrested together with
the trio, was released on Thursday after he paid a fine for allegedly failing
to display registration number plates on a vehicle. The trio was remanded to July 15 on $10 000
bail each. Newsday
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