Police officer assaults three colleagues and wife

POLICE in Gweru have arrested their colleague stationed at Mkoba Police Station after he allegedly ran amok and assaulted three other officers who were trying to restrain him from assaulting his wife.

The wife of the officer is also a serving member of the police force.

Constable Average Chamunorwa (32) was on Thursday arraigned before Gweru magistrate, Mrs Florence Nago facing three counts of assault.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was remanded out of custody on his own cognisance to Monday next week for trial.

For the State, Miss Chipo Matshe said that on 19 November this year, and at about 3pm, one of the complainants, Constable Cynthia Hlomai was manning a roadblock along the City-Mkoba road near Mtapa Police Station together with two other police officers. Miss Matshe said while on duty, a passerby informed them that Chamunorwa was beating up a policewoman outside Mtapa Police Station.

She said Constable Hlomai went to investigate and allegedly found Chamunorwa beating his wife, Constable Taupawu.

The court heard that when Const Hlomai tried to restrain Chamunorwa, who was in civilian attire from beating his wife, he became violent and hit Const Hlomai in the face with some ice cream, which he was eating. Miss Matshe said Const Hlomai flagged down a taxi which was passing by and ordered Chamunorwa to get into the taxi so that they could go to Mtapa Police Station.

She said while in the taxi, Chamunorwa allegedly slapped Const Hlomai in the face before he allegedly spat in her face.

Miss Matshe said when they arrived at Mtapa Police Station, Chamunorwa held Const Tendai Dick by the neck and attempted to strangle him. Const Dick was interviewing him on what had transpired before he attempted to strangle him.

She said Constable Themba Nkani helped Const Dick to take Chamunorwa into the police cells, but was also head-butted and punched. Chamunorwa was later detained at the police station.