Airforce duo kidnaps a cop to stop their arrests

An Airforce of Zimbabwe officer based at Thornhill Airbase has been brought before the courts charged with kidnapping a police officer.

Allegations are that Flight Lieutenant Michael Paradza (30) and his subordinate Francis Chitsike (27), in a bid to stop the imminent arrest of an accused assailant, sped off with the police officer before dumping him at Thornhill Airbase gate.

Prosecutor Yeukai Mugumba told the court that on the 24th February this year at about 4am, the complainant, Sidney Masendeke in the company of other police officers, were tasked to escort one Ishmael Thumelo Musimanga to identify the person who had assaulted him at a bar in the city.

When the police details failed to locate the assailant they proceeded to a city night club where Musimanga identified Shepherd Tshuma as the assailant.

The complainant who was in police uniform reportedly notified Tshuma that he was under arrest and ordered him to get into their vehicle. Tshuma is, however, said to have resisted and asked the complainant to board his (Tshuma's) car where the two accused persons were seated.

The complainant allegedly asked Chitsike to drive towards Gweru Central Police while his (Masendeke's) colleagues followed behind.

But Paradza allegedly ordered Chitsike to drive straight to Thornhill Air Base and he complied.

When the accused persons discovered that they were being followed by complainant's colleagues, they allegedly dropped the police officers at Thornhill gate before instructing the guards not to allow them in.

The airforce officers who appeared before Gweru magistrate Sithembiso Ncube were remanded on free bail to May 8 for trial. They are represented by Hillary Garikai of Garikai and Partners.