Cop assaulted over counselee affair

A police officer was assaulted by three men on Tuesday after being found at a lodge with a woman he had been counselling, following a tip-off to authorities.

Constable Blessing Mutoko, 33, of the Victim Friendly Unit at Budiriro Police Station, was rushed to Harare Central Hospital after sustaining injuries during the altercation. The assailants were identified as Charles Jamba (66), Joseph Jamba (38), and Tinashe Magumve (21).

Mutoko had been counselling a couple involved in a domestic violence case. After exchanging contact information with the woman, he reportedly developed an inappropriate relationship with her, which led to a meeting at Dombo Lodge near the police station. After the encounter, the two went their separate ways.

The woman's husband and his relatives later confronted Mutoko, who was off duty and not in uniform, demanding to know what he was doing with his wife. Sensing danger, Mutoko attempted to flee by entering a commuter omnibus, but the three men pursued him and forcibly removed him from the vehicle, leading to a violent attack.

Mutoko sustained multiple injuries, including a cut on his nose and a swollen face. A bystander intervened and alerted the ZRP Budiriro, resulting in the arrest of the three assailants. He was later referred to Sally Mugabe Hospital for medical treatment and examination.

The case is officially documented under RRB 6698354. While National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unavailable for comment, eyewitnesses criticised the officer's conduct, noting that counselling requires professionalism and claiming that Mutoko misused the contact details of the counselee.

The incident raises concerns over professional ethics and boundaries in sensitive domestic violence cases, highlighting the consequences of breaches of trust between officers and the public.