Man (33) jailed for striking a cop

A 33-YEAR-OLD man from Wedza, Godfrey Chando, was on Monday slapped with an 18-month jail term for striking a police officer with a rake as the latter attempted to handcuff him in connection with another case of violence.

Chando was initially sentenced to two years in prison before Marondera magistrate Tendai Muchini suspended six months on condition of good behaviour.

The court heard that on May 15 this year, Obvious Ndlovu, a police officer stationed at Wedza Police Station, was assigned to track down and arrest Chando on charges of assaulting one Felix Mangezi.

However, Chando became violent and refused to be handcuffed.

In the ensuing melee, Chando picked up a rake and struck Ndlovu on the chin and shoulder before he wrestled him to the ground. Ndlovu was only saved from further bashing after a passerby came to his rescue and stopped the fight.

Prosecutor Emmanuel Dera pleaded with the court to impose a long custodial sentence on Chando, saying his action was a serious security breach as police officers were part of the country's security system.

Dera cited the recent incident where police officers were bashed by over 200 members of the Johane Masowe weChishanu sect in Budiriro 2, Harare.

To date, 27 members of the sect have been arrested and put into custody to June 16 while their alleged accomplices including the sect leader Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani are still at large.