Senior cop threatens to shoot a villager

REVELLERS enjoying their drinks at a bar in Somabhula on the outskirts of Gweru were recently left scurrying for cover after a police officer who was armed with a rifle stormed into the bar and threatened to shoot one of the revellers whom he accused of cutting trees in his farm.
Superintendent Albert Mashingaidze who is based at Ross Camp in Bulawayo was in full police gear when he reportedly stormed into a bar at Somabhula Business Centre last Wednesday night where he drew a gun which he pointed at Trynos Ndlovu.
Supt Mashingaidze, a farmer in Somabhula, accused Ndlovu, a villager, of poaching logs in his farm.
According to a witness, the heavily drunk Ndlovu grabbed Supt Mashingaidze's hand and wrestled him in a bid to disarm him.
"As Ndlovu tussled with Supt Mashingaidze, other revellers who were still confused bolted out of the bar and ran for dear life. Supt Mashingaidze later overpowered Ndlovu and dragged him into his private vehicle, a pick-up truck, after he told him that he was under arrest for cutting down trees in his farm," said the witness.
The witness said as Supt Mashingaidze was getting into his truck to drive off, Ndlovu who had just been thrown into the back of the truck disembarked and took to his heels.
"He quickly disappeared into the dark leaving Supt Mashingaidze stuck. Supt Mashingaidze tried to chase him to no avail.
The determined Supt Mashingaidze drove to Ndlovu's homestead where he waylaid Ndlovu and re-arrested him," said the witness.
The witness said villagers in Somabhula were now living in fear after the incident.
"Villagers are now living in fear because of the incident. It was so scary for a lone police officer to point a gun at a reveller in a public place like that. Anything could have happened if Ndlovu had tried to flee from the police officer," he said.
Supt Mashingaidze yesterday confirmed raiding a bar in Somabhula and arresting Ndlovu. He said he visited the bar armed with his service rifle as he also feared for his life.
"I visited Somabhula business with my service rifle as I was patrolling my farm. I have been having a problem with people cutting down trees in my farm and I decided to conduct some night patrols. I then visited Somabhula Council bar after getting information that Ndlovu, who was the suspect, was drinking beer there," he said.
Supt Mashingaidze said he could not have just walked into a beer drinking place looking for a suspect while unarmed.
"The gun I had is my service rifle and it was just to scare away the other imbibers from attacking me. Ndlovu was so violent to me prior to the arrest and I could have shot him if my intention was to use a gun. I am a senior police officer and I managed to contain him," he said.
Supt Mashingaidze said he took Ndlovu to Gweru Rural Police Station and the matter was still pending before the courts.
"Ndlovu is part of a syndicate which is wantonly cutting down trees in farms in Somabhula and he is set to appear in court," he said.