News / National
Four men arrested for 'fatally assaulting' a member of the CIO
20 Apr 2012 at 20:59hrs | Views
A pirate taxi driver, two soldiers and another suspect have been arrested on allegations of fatally assaulting a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation. The operative was killed while trying to hire a taxi at a nightclub in Glen Norah on Independence Day.
The incident occurred at around 11:30pm at Hwenjes Village Nightclub.
Brown Mwale (40) who was with the Counter Intelligence Branch based in Harare, died as a result of serious injuries he sustained during the attack.
Police spokesperson Inspector Blessmore Chishaka yesterday said the suspects were still assisting them with investigations.
He said on the fateful day, Mwale was drinking beer with three friends in Glen Norah when he decided to go to his Waterfalls home.
"He decided to hire a taxi and offered US$4, but the driver said he wanted US$5. A misunderstanding arose and the driver called his friends (the other three suspects) before they all started assaulting Mwale," Insp Chishaka said.
Mwale's friends fled after being overpowered and returned after the taxi driver and his accomplices had disappeared.
They took Mwale and started walking away from the nightclub along Sebakwe Road.
On their way, the suspects reportedly confronted them again and Mwale's friends fled. Mwale who could not run as a result of the injuries he had sustained was assaulted again before being bundled into the taxi and dumped along High Glen Road near an area popularly known as "paMasimbi."
"We are not sure whether he was still alive or not when they dumped him but his friends informed his young brother and a report was made to the police," Insp Chishaka said.
Investigations led to the arrest of three suspects the same night.
The fourth suspect surrendered himself to the police on Thursday. When one of the suspects was arrested, he had a blood stained shirt.
According to Mwale's brother Mr Esau Mwale, the now deceased was overpowered since he was drunk.
"When the taxi crew later followed him, it is believed that they had armed themselves with iron bars and batons, which they used to further assault him before dumping him along High Glen Road," he said.
He said Mwale had over US$2 000 cash which the suspects allegedly took and stripped him of his shirt and shoes.
"The money was to buy building materials for his house," Mr Esau Mwale said.
He said the taxi used by the gang was unregistered and only operated at night. Mwale was buried at Warren Hills Cemetery yesterday afternoon.
He is survived by his wife Rachel and four children â€" Leeroy, Munashe, Makomborero and Brown Jnr.
The President's Department yesterday said it had lost a hardworking officer.
"The organisation has lost a dedicated cadre who was trustworthy, loyal and dependable. He leaves behind a void, which will be difficult to fill.
"This is why the news of Mwale's death was received with great shock and disbelief," the Department said.
Mwale was born on July 31, 1971 and went to Zuvarabuda Primary School in Glen Norah and Mt Pleasant High School.
He did his Advanced Level at Cranborne Boys High School between 1990 and 1991.
He joined the President's Department on May 13, 1996 as a security officer with the Counter Intelligence Branch.
In 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Senior Security Officer and to Intelligence Officer last year.
The incident occurred at around 11:30pm at Hwenjes Village Nightclub.
Brown Mwale (40) who was with the Counter Intelligence Branch based in Harare, died as a result of serious injuries he sustained during the attack.
Police spokesperson Inspector Blessmore Chishaka yesterday said the suspects were still assisting them with investigations.
He said on the fateful day, Mwale was drinking beer with three friends in Glen Norah when he decided to go to his Waterfalls home.
"He decided to hire a taxi and offered US$4, but the driver said he wanted US$5. A misunderstanding arose and the driver called his friends (the other three suspects) before they all started assaulting Mwale," Insp Chishaka said.
Mwale's friends fled after being overpowered and returned after the taxi driver and his accomplices had disappeared.
They took Mwale and started walking away from the nightclub along Sebakwe Road.
On their way, the suspects reportedly confronted them again and Mwale's friends fled. Mwale who could not run as a result of the injuries he had sustained was assaulted again before being bundled into the taxi and dumped along High Glen Road near an area popularly known as "paMasimbi."
"We are not sure whether he was still alive or not when they dumped him but his friends informed his young brother and a report was made to the police," Insp Chishaka said.
Investigations led to the arrest of three suspects the same night.
The fourth suspect surrendered himself to the police on Thursday. When one of the suspects was arrested, he had a blood stained shirt.
According to Mwale's brother Mr Esau Mwale, the now deceased was overpowered since he was drunk.
"When the taxi crew later followed him, it is believed that they had armed themselves with iron bars and batons, which they used to further assault him before dumping him along High Glen Road," he said.
He said Mwale had over US$2 000 cash which the suspects allegedly took and stripped him of his shirt and shoes.
"The money was to buy building materials for his house," Mr Esau Mwale said.
He said the taxi used by the gang was unregistered and only operated at night. Mwale was buried at Warren Hills Cemetery yesterday afternoon.
He is survived by his wife Rachel and four children â€" Leeroy, Munashe, Makomborero and Brown Jnr.
The President's Department yesterday said it had lost a hardworking officer.
"The organisation has lost a dedicated cadre who was trustworthy, loyal and dependable. He leaves behind a void, which will be difficult to fill.
"This is why the news of Mwale's death was received with great shock and disbelief," the Department said.
Mwale was born on July 31, 1971 and went to Zuvarabuda Primary School in Glen Norah and Mt Pleasant High School.
He did his Advanced Level at Cranborne Boys High School between 1990 and 1991.
He joined the President's Department on May 13, 1996 as a security officer with the Counter Intelligence Branch.
In 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Senior Security Officer and to Intelligence Officer last year.
Source - TH
