Harare, (New Ziana) – A Gweru-based police officer who gunned down an armed robbery suspect has been convicted of murder and is due to be sentenced on September 20.
He was convicted by the special circuit of the High Court, which has seen two judges deployed to the Midlands capital and another one in Gokwe as the Midlands has emerged as the country’s new murder capital, taking over the mantle from Masvingo province.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the case arose from an incident in which Mitch Tafirenyika (28) gunned down Tichaona Muzhanduki outside a house at Radway Farm in Gweru.
Tafirenyika was part of a team of police officers tasked with apprehending armed robbery suspects, Muzhanduki and Doubt Munsaka at Radway Farm. Tafirenyika and a colleague were armed with service rifles.
When they got to the farm, the team split into four groups and surrounded the house. The now deceased opened the door after the police had knocked and shouted “Police.” Tafirenyika immediately opened fire and shot Muzhanduki several times on the chest and arms. Muzhanduki died on the spot.
In a separate case, the NPAZ said Courage Hwami was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court sitting in Gweru for murder and attempted murder.
The cases relate to an incident in which Hwami, who was 35 years old at the time, attacked and killed a 19-year-old man, and injured a colleague of the deceased with a Colombian knife following a misunderstanding at Vudzijena Night Club at Mkoba 16 Business Centre, Gweru, on December 4 last year.
Whilst at the club, a misunderstanding arose between Hwami and his victim resulting in a fight that was stopped by a security officer who separated then two men. After a while, Hwami charged at the deceased who was with his brother-in-law, the attempted murder victim.
He stabbed the deceased with a Columbia knife once on the left side of the chest and on the back. He also chased the brother-in-law and stabbed him once on the chest outside the bar before fleeing the scene.
The deceased died on the spot as a result of the attack. A police report was made leading to Hwami’s arrest.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and 10 years in jail for the attempted murder. The sentences will run concurrently.
New Ziana
