Policemen face murder charges after beating up Mugabe critics

By Lance Guma
29 June 2006

Two police officers from Bulawayo have been arrested on murder charges after fatally assaulting two civilians who had said they wished Robert Mugabe dead. According to a report by the Zimonline news agency the two officers went on a rampage beating up patrons at a beer garden in the city. The two civilians were part of a group of people discussing the death of Information Minister Tichaona Jokonya at the weekend. Apparently one of them remarked that it was good men who were dying, leaving the devil himself (Mugabe). This is said to have incensed the police who started beating up everyone at the scene.

Gift Jubane and Prince Ndebele died at Mpilo Hospital on Monday as a result of the injuries. Zimonline says seven other people sustained serious injuries during the attack. The assault was carried out using baton sticks and booted feet. The patrons were accused of working with the MDC to topple the government and arrested immediately after the assaults. Nine of those arrested were released on Monday but unfortunately Jubane and Ndebele died from their injuries. The accused policemen have not been named yet. All that is know is that they are both constables from Hillside police station and based at the Kensington base. Zimonline sources say they are being held at Donnington police station in Bulawayo.

Commenting on the story, Lionel Saungweme a journalist based in Bulawayo, says it’s highly unlikely the two policemen if convicted will serve the full sentence. He says the police force has been stuffed with ruling party youths and war veterans who have a mandate to carry out such acts and intimidate the population. Saungweme says there are dozens of examples of Zanu PF supporters who have been sentenced in public by the courts but privately never served any time. He says there is also the very real possibility that Mugabe could use presidential powers of pardon and argue the incident was politically motivated. He did the same with security agents Elias Kanengoni and his partner who tried to kill politician Patrick Kombayi in 1990. The duo escaped a 7 year jail term midway through serving it.