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Fired cop sues Chihuri

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A FORMER member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) traffic section has sued Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri for unlawful dismissal.

A FORMER member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) traffic section has sued Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri for unlawful dismissal.

BY SILAS NKALA

The former officer, only identified as D Munhumumwe, was recently convicted and dismissed from the police force after he was caught collecting bribes from motorists in contravention of the Police Act.

Munhumumwe cited the officer commanding Bulawayo Central district, Chief Superintendent Fungai Dengu, who presided over his case, and Chihuri, who endorsed the decision to fire him, as respondents.

He stated that his conviction by Dengu and Chihuri’s subsequent dismissal of his appeal were in violation of the law, pleading with the court to quash Dengu’s verdict.

In his founding affidavit, Munhumumwe submitted that Dengu tried him on June 10, 2015 on allegations of being found in possession of cash, while on duty at a road block.

“I was convicted by the first respondent and sentenced to 14 days imprisonment at the detention barracks,” he submitted.

“I appealed in terms of Section 34(7) of the Police Act to the second respondent (Chihuri). On September 19, the second respondent advised me, through my officer-in-charge, that he had dismissed my appeal. I was not served with a copy of the judgment.”

Munhumumwe said Chihuri’s dismissal of his appeal was based on an incompetent charge.

“There is no law in terms of the Zimbabwe Republic Police manuscripts prohibiting or demanding that I should have declared my cash when I was deployed at traffic law enforcement, for which I could be charged of and, let alone, be sentenced to jail,” he submitted.

“The first respondent intimated and commenced proceedings by force in the absence of my lawyer when he knew very well that I was legally represented and that my lawyer had all the State papers.”

Munhumumwe said his right to a fair trial was highly compromised, as he was denied access to a recording of the proceedings.

“The first respondent forced me to admit that I was found with undeclared cash. The respondent did not justify his conviction and sentence,” he said.

The former cop said when he tried to question the procedure, he was threatened with a contempt charge.

Chihuri and Dengu are yet to respond to the summons.