News / Local
Soma-Phiri, top cop fight over parking space
25 Mar 2016 at 10:27hrs | Views
Highlanders FC assistant coach Amini Soma-Phiri was involved in a scuffle with a top Bulawayo cop over parking bay space.
The incident happened last Thursday at around 9pm close to Unity Village Flea Market.
The cop was identified as Chief Superintendent Albertino Mashingaidze.
Mashingaidze allegedly ordered Soma-Phiri to reverse and make way for him to park his Ford Ranger car.
According to Soma-Phiri, he refused to take that order and that led to Mashingaidze confronting the coach.
"I told him I would not reverse my car because I had parked first and that he should find an alternative parking bay. We started arguing and he threatened to beat me up," said Soma-Phiri.
Mashingaidze ordered two constables to arrest the coach.
However, a sizeable crowd that was monitoring the incident would have none of it.
Soma-Phiri said he came to rescue of the constables after the crowd had threaded to beat them.
"I feared for the female constable who was already being manhandled by members of the public for attempting to arrest me and I decided it was in everyone's best interest if I go with the officers to the station"
The following day, Soma-Phiri was summoned to the station but no charges were laid.
On Monday he was called again but was not charged.
Mashingaidze refused to shed light citing police protocol issues.
The incident happened last Thursday at around 9pm close to Unity Village Flea Market.
The cop was identified as Chief Superintendent Albertino Mashingaidze.
Mashingaidze allegedly ordered Soma-Phiri to reverse and make way for him to park his Ford Ranger car.
According to Soma-Phiri, he refused to take that order and that led to Mashingaidze confronting the coach.
"I told him I would not reverse my car because I had parked first and that he should find an alternative parking bay. We started arguing and he threatened to beat me up," said Soma-Phiri.
However, a sizeable crowd that was monitoring the incident would have none of it.
Soma-Phiri said he came to rescue of the constables after the crowd had threaded to beat them.
"I feared for the female constable who was already being manhandled by members of the public for attempting to arrest me and I decided it was in everyone's best interest if I go with the officers to the station"
The following day, Soma-Phiri was summoned to the station but no charges were laid.
On Monday he was called again but was not charged.
Mashingaidze refused to shed light citing police protocol issues.
Source - B Metro
