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Violent chief fined

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POLICE in Chitungwiza on Thursday arrested Chief Serima and a soldier for allegedly assaulting an MDC-T activist, Joseph Choruma, over $50.

POLICE in Chitungwiza on Thursday arrested Chief Serima (Vengesayi Rushwaya) and a soldier for allegedly assaulting an MDC-T activist, Joseph Choruma, over $50.

Staff Reporter

Choruma said he was a former lodger at Chief Serima’s house in Rock View, Chitungwiza, and the traditional leader accused him of vacating without settling utility bills.

He said on the day he was assaulted, the chief spotted him at a night club in Zengeza 5 and demanded the money.

“Chief Serima approached me with a group of around five people and then demanded money from me,” said Choruma.

“He just said to me you people from the MDC are being used, give me my $50.  That is when he started assaulting me with the other people. I then ran to Zengeza 5 Police Base where he further assaulted me in front of police officers.

“The police officers then told me they could not record my case and referred me to St Mary’s Police Station.”

He said Zengeza West MP Collen Gwiyo (MDC-T) came to his rescue and ferried him to St Mary’s Police Station, but the chief followed him. “We then went to St Mary’s Police Station and I managed to report my case there. The chief and his accomplices followed us and continued bullying me in front of the police who responded by arresting and locking them up,” said Choruma.

Police sources confirmed the detention of Chief Serima and a soldier, only identified as Mapombwa, who were reportedly released yesterday afternoon after paying fines.

Choruma denied he owed the chief money for utility bills. “I stayed in one of his houses, but I left in January.  However, when I saw him he demanded the $50 he said was for the water at his house, but I told him that I never received a statement indicating I had a debt,” he said.

Chief Serima is not new to controversy.  In 2010 he was assaulted by Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment deputy minister Tongai Matutu after an altercation in Masvingo.