News / National
Zimbabwe police brutality exposed
24 Oct 2023 at 06:09hrs | Views
Three members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) special constabulary details are facing severe criticism for allegedly beating a suspect to death inside the holding cells at Banket Police Station.
In an attempt to hide the apparent murder of David Kanyenze (26), ZRP Banket reportedly planned to open a sudden death docket (SDD). However, relatives blocked this move and demanded a thorough investigation into the suspected killing.
Sources have informed NewZimbabwe.com that the three ZRP Neighbourhood Watch Committee (NWC) members took turns assaulting Kanyenze on Friday evening using unidentified objects, causing him to sustain serious injuries. One of them reportedly stomped on the suspect's neck, choking him.
Brian Kanyenze, the older brother of the deceased, expressed deep sorrow and shock over his sibling's death, stating that "Even if he was a vagabond, he didn't deserve to die in this manner. He was young, aged only 26, and at that age, making mistakes is expected. He could have gone to jail for his offense and come out a reformed person."
The now-deceased worked as a tout for pirate taxis on the Banket—Chinhoyi route and was wanted by the police for malicious damage to property, as he was accused of destroying a weighing scale at a butchery in Kuwadzana shopping centre in Banket during an altercation with workers at a nearby canteen.
After being arrested earlier last week, Kanyenze was taken to Banket police station and placed in a cell. However, he managed to escape from lawful custody. He was re-arrested on Friday at Kuwadzana shops by NWC members and taken back to the police station, where the beating occurred at around 5 pm.
The battered victim was left in the cell struggling for his life, and fellow inmates raised the alarm upon noticing that Kanyenze was having difficulty breathing. He was rushed to Banket District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Brian, who was informed of his brother's death through word of mouth, criticized the lack of communication from the authorities regarding his brother's arrest, assault, and subsequent admission to the hospital. He is now seeking justice for the alleged killers.
Efforts to obtain a comment from ZRP national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
In an attempt to hide the apparent murder of David Kanyenze (26), ZRP Banket reportedly planned to open a sudden death docket (SDD). However, relatives blocked this move and demanded a thorough investigation into the suspected killing.
Sources have informed NewZimbabwe.com that the three ZRP Neighbourhood Watch Committee (NWC) members took turns assaulting Kanyenze on Friday evening using unidentified objects, causing him to sustain serious injuries. One of them reportedly stomped on the suspect's neck, choking him.
Brian Kanyenze, the older brother of the deceased, expressed deep sorrow and shock over his sibling's death, stating that "Even if he was a vagabond, he didn't deserve to die in this manner. He was young, aged only 26, and at that age, making mistakes is expected. He could have gone to jail for his offense and come out a reformed person."
After being arrested earlier last week, Kanyenze was taken to Banket police station and placed in a cell. However, he managed to escape from lawful custody. He was re-arrested on Friday at Kuwadzana shops by NWC members and taken back to the police station, where the beating occurred at around 5 pm.
The battered victim was left in the cell struggling for his life, and fellow inmates raised the alarm upon noticing that Kanyenze was having difficulty breathing. He was rushed to Banket District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Brian, who was informed of his brother's death through word of mouth, criticized the lack of communication from the authorities regarding his brother's arrest, assault, and subsequent admission to the hospital. He is now seeking justice for the alleged killers.
Efforts to obtain a comment from ZRP national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Source - NewZimbabwe
