THE seven Shamva police officers accused of assaulting and killing a local resident accusing him of stealing $100 from their boss’ wife, allegedly turned against one of their colleagues accusing her of being lenient towards suspects.
Report by Charles Laiton
Constable Energy Chigaba, who was part of the police team that was deployed at Ashley Mine compound on March 17 last year, told High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera that her workmates assaulted the residents against orders from their superiors that they were to raid shabeens and investigate a robbery case.
Chigaba said the now deceased, Luxmore Chivambo, was part of the people who were indiscriminately beaten by the law enforcement agents and kicked with booted feet even when he pleaded with them that he was asthmatic.
“I personally did not assault anybody because we had not been ordered to do so by the duty officer. However, the accused persons proceeded to ruthlessly assault the residents and when they (her colleagues) realised I was not taking part, they chased after me intending to assault me,” Chigaba said.
Chigaba said she had initially been instructed to guard the suspects that had been rounded up from the compound, but later the officers received an instruction from officer-in-charge Aspias Shumba to beat them.
The accused persons’ lawyers then suggested to Chigaba that she was an accomplice witness who wanted to downplay her involvement in the matter, but she denied the claims.
The accused defended their actions saying through their lawyers that they applied minimum force to contain the marauding mob resisting arrest.
