Mwonzora accuses police officers of being 'drunk' on duty

MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora made stunning allegations in court yesterday that the party failed to report to police an MDC Renewal Team activist accused of plotting to bomb Harvest House because police officers "get drunk" in the evening.

This emerged in the trial of Leonard Dendera (32) of Zengeza 3, Chitungwiza, who was allegedly caught at Harvest House (the MDC-T's Harare headquarters) at night with various articles for criminal use, including a hacksaw, a pair of gloves, 2kg of fertiliser, three empty bottles and two litres of petrol.

Testifying in court, Mwonzora said he gave instructions to preserve the materials they had found on the accused so that they could hand them over to law enforcers.

"The following day, on the morning of April 26, I received a phone call from Joseph Madziwa, who is the manager of the security department as well as my personal aide, and I then met with director of security Wallas and his deputy Washington Gaga, who showed me the articles.

"I then reiterated that this was a police issue and that a police report should be made.

"The accused was known to us and previously worked in the security department at Harvest House.

Unfortunately, there was a rally in Gutu, Masvingo and I was needed at that rally.

"I left Masvingo in the morning for Harare, the report by the accused was false and deliberate. I was taken aback when I heard the allegation against me."

During cross-examination Mwonzora was asked why the police report was not made on the weekend and his response was that before party members interact with the police, they first advise leaders, especially himself.

"Why not report timeously, why tomorrow, why Monday? Are you aware that police stations operate 24 hours in Harare?," the accused asked Mwonzora.

Responding to the question, Mwonzora told the court that he was aware of all that but said police stations operated with different levels of efficiency and seriousness.

This prompted Dendera to probe further, asking if Mwonzora meant that police stations operating at night are not serious and efficient.

To this Mwonzora said: "Yes, most of them are drunk."

Dendera appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing charges of possessing articles of criminal use and deliberately supplying false information to a public authority.

Prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri alleges that on April 25 this year Dendera was caught with a pair of gloves, 2kg of fertiliser, three empty bottles and two litres of petrol at Harvest House, 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue in Harare.

It is alleged that the following day Dendera made a false police report that he lived at No. 3 Chigunguru Road, Zengeza 1, when in fact his correct address was 16265 Zengeza 3, Chitungwiza.

It is alleged that he also reported that he was assaulted by Mwonzora and Madziwa at Harvest House when, in fact, he was not assaulted.