Cops intercept Mugabe motorcade, assault outriders

TWO members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police have landed themselves in trouble after they allegedly intercepted President Robert Mugabe's motorcade in Harare on Saturday and assaulted two of his outriders after being ordered off the road.

The suspects, Munyaradzi Chivengwa (34) and Lubelihle Nyathi (26), appeared before magistrate Tendai Mahwe yesterday charged with assaulting or resisting law officers.

Chivengwa is stationed at Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Hwange, while Nyathi is attached to CID headquarters in the capital.

The biker, identified as Stanley Chimoto is the complainant in the matter.

The court heard that on Saturday, Chimoto was leading a team of six outriders providing escort to Mugabe as the Zanu-PF leader was driving to his rural home in Zvimba.

The court heard Chimoto stopped at the intersection of Samora Machel and Tredgold Road in Belvedere and started controlling traffic to pave way for the motorcade.

Chivengwa and Nyathi then arrived in their private car. When Chimoto instructed Nyathi to stop, the latter allegedly ignored the order and proceeded into Samora Machel Avenue.

As Nyathi was driving away, Chimoto jumped onto his motorbike and blocked him.

In a fit of rage, Chivengwa allegedly jumped out of the car and confronted Chimoto, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket and shoving him around.

At that time, the fourth outrider, Fortune Sibanda, arrived at the scene and tried to restrain Chivengwa by corking his service pistol.

Chivengwa left Chimoto and vented his anger on Sibanda as Mugabe's motorcade drove through.

Members of the public then assisted the two riders to arrest Chivengwa and Nyathi and escort them to Harare Central Police Station where they were detained.
The court remanded them in custody to today pending bail ruling.

Prosecutor Francesca Mukumbiri said the accused had no right to disturb the flow of the Presidential motorcade.