Cop sues cop for US$50 000

A Masvingo-based police sergeant has filed a US$50,000 lawsuit against a senior officer and five other members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), alleging malicious arrest and prosecution after he was acquitted of charges relating to the illegal possession of copper wire.

Takesure Buzu, who was stationed at Masvingo Central Homicide at the time of the incident, is suing Paul Charlie and five officers under his command following his arrest in August 2022.

The civil claim, filed under case number MSVPC753/26 at the Masvingo Magistrates Court, seeks US$15,000 for legal and related expenses incurred during the criminal trial and a further US$35,000 for alleged contumelia, deprivation of liberty and discomfort suffered during his incarceration.

The other defendants cited in the lawsuit are Kudakwashe Chokumarara, Wilfred Garatsa, Talent Tichaona Shambare, Lloyd Hendreck and Frederick Moyo.

According to court papers, Inspector Charlie led a police team that arrested Buzu in Rhodene, Masvingo, on August 17, 2022, on allegations of illegally possessing copper wire.

Buzu spent 21 days in remand prison before being released. He was subsequently acquitted of all charges in 2024.

In his claim, Buzu alleges that the arresting officers ignored crucial evidence demonstrating that he had been carrying out official duties at the time of his arrest.

He contends that communications between himself and his then Officer-in-Charge, Taurayi Muzvimwe, confirmed that he was on a work-related assignment known to and authorised by his supervisor.

Buzu further alleges that Inspector Charlie and his team deliberately excluded a statement made by Muzvimwe from the prosecution's case.

"Detective Inspector Muzvimwe made his statement and they blocked his statement to form part of the state papers, meaning the defendants were doing what they felt would make me suffer for reasons best known to them up until the trial magistrate invited Detective Inspector Taurayi Muzvimwe to come and testify before the court," reads part of the claim.

The sergeant also alleges that two individuals, identified as Pinuis Chipute and Munashe Pasipanodya, were initially arrested in connection with the copper theft allegations but were later released.

According to Buzu, the two men were the actual suspects he intended to arrest during his assignment.

He claims that although the arrests were recorded in an official charge office diary, the two individuals were omitted from court documents and reports submitted to provincial police authorities.

"That the defendants never mentioned the two in any state papers thereby trying to conceal them and link them to their offence, a clear indication they were now acting on their personal capacity and distanced themselves from proper police work of not showing favour or disfavour to someone," Buzu argues in his court application.

He further alleges that he possesses copies of both the official charge office diary and what he describes as a fraudulent version allegedly tendered during criminal proceedings.

Buzu is represented by lawyer Norman Mugiya.

The defendants had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

The case is expected to draw significant attention given that it involves serving and former police officers and raises questions about investigative procedures, evidence handling and accountability within law enforcement structures.

The court will determine whether the arrest and prosecution were conducted lawfully or whether Buzu is entitled to damages for malicious prosecution and wrongful deprivation of liberty.