Police officer arrested for insulting Mugabe

A JUNIOR officer based at Silobela Police Station in Midlands province recently landed himself in trouble after he allegedly defaced portrait pictures of President Robert Mugabe and Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, accusing them of causing his misery.

Constable Comfort Kawere was arrested last Thursday after he allegedly walked into the charge office, took down Mugabe's portrait and went on to deface it with an "X" before adding obscenities on the picture.

He is alleged to have blamed Mugabe and Chihuri for all the social ills affecting Zimbabweans and the suffering of junior police officers. Government has been struggling to pay its workers on time and has had to stagger salary disbursements.

Kawere's lawyer, Archibald Madzima, confirmed his client's arrest on charges of undermining the Office of the President.

"Kawere was arrested on Thursday night on his way from a beerhall and charged with undermining the Office of the President following the discovery of President Mugabe's portrait, which had obscenities written all over it," he said.

Kawere was transferred to Kwekwe Central holding cells on Friday so that he could appear in court on Saturday. However, he was not brought to court as scheduled after police preferred an internal disciplinary procedure.

Madzima said his client was denied access to his lawyers and dragged before a police court martial late on Saturday.

"They charged him, denied him access to his lawyers and in the absence of his lawyers or time to prepare for his defence, they hauled him before a quick trial and convicted him," Madzima said.

Kawere was sentenced to 14 days' detention at Fairbridge in Bulawayo. After serving the sentence, he is expected to appear before a board of suitability.

"We will be challenging this illegal system within a police force which, out of all things, should be respecting and upholding the law yet it appears they are at the forefront of abusing the same laws," Madzima said.

"They closed the door and conducted the trial while I stood outside. I was told that the matter was clearly internal and I could not be allowed inside, this is a clear violation of our client's constitutional rights and this will be challenged."