Soldier breaks windows at police station

A DRUNK member of the Zimbabwe National Army yesterday appeared before Gweru magistrate Shotgame Musaiona charged with malicious damage to property after he allegedly ran amok and smashed window panes at a police station in the city centre.

Persuade Titus Mberi from 2 Field Regiment in Mount Darwin allegedly committed the offence on June 16 at Gweru Central Police Station.

Mberi (27) pleaded guilty to the charge saying he smashed the police station windows in self-defence as he repelled robbers who were allegedly trailing him. He admitted to being drunk when the incident happened.

Prosecutor, Andrew Marimo told the court that on June 16, Assistant Inspector Muchineripi Nhire was on night duty with four other police details when they heard the noise of a breaking window pane from outside and a few minutes another pane was struck. When Nhire and his workmates went outside the charge office to investigate, they allegedly found Mberi pelting the window panes using beer bottles.

Upon seeing the police officers, Mberi took to his heels along Fifth Street with the officers in hot pursuit, leading to his arrest.

The total value of damaged property is $6.