Top cop drags Bosso coach to court over 'stupid idiot' slur

A senior police officer based in Bulawayo has dragged Highlanders assistant coach Amini Soma-Phiri to court accusing him of using abusive language towards him.

Chief Superintendent Alberto Mashingaidze alleges that Soma-Phiri called him a "stupid idiot" after the two clashed over a parking bay.

Soma-Phiri appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya on Monday and was remanded out of custody to April 22.

Prosecutor Nkathazo Dlodlo told the court that Mashingaidze was driving a government vehicle on March 16 around 9PM and intended to park on a single centre parking bay in front of a supermarket along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Soma-Phiri, who was driving a Ford Bantam came from the opposite direction intending to occupy the same parking bay, which Mashingaidze had partially occupied.

It is then that Soma-Phiri allegedly shouted "stupid idiot" at Mashingaidze before driving off and occupying another parking bay.

"The Highlanders assistant coach, after parking his vehicle, returned to Mashingaidze and continued shouting at him using the word 'idiot' and in the process attracting the attention of the public, who joined in and threatened to attack Mashingaidze and destroy the government vehicle," said Dlodlo.

The complainant then identified himself as a police officer before cautioning Soma-Phiri against insulting him but the coach allegedly became aggressive and continued insulting Mashingaidze, telling him that he should not boast about being a police officer.

"A report was made to two police officers, who were patrolling the area, constables Jimu Joseph and Petronella Ngwenya, who arrested Soma-Phiri," said Dlodlo.