Bulawayo - A Gwanda-based lawyer has accused senior police there of shielding three officers from punishment for wrongfully arresting and torturing a local man. The three police officers from the Gwanda Criminal Investigation department (CId), Lection Sibanda, Nhamo Baradzi, and owen Sibanda, based at Gwanda central police station, had charges filed agaiMhlanga says he was tortured by the three officers during his detention after he was arrested on burglary charges. He was released when officers failed to find evidence that
Mhlanga was involved in the burglaries.
After his release, Mhlanga pressed charges against the three officers but, according to his lawyer Galen Moyo-Masiye and Partners, there was clear evidence that the police authorities were protecting the men, who had still not been arrested five months after
the incident.
We have been asked to enquire as to what led to the non-appearance in court of the CId officers who allegedly assaulted our client whilst he was detained in police
cells at ZRP Gwanda, read part of a letter sent by Mhlangas lawyer to the officer commanding Matabeleland South police.
When I communicated to your subordinate, I was concerned about your delays and obvious antics of harbouring the accused persons from facing justice. I asked for an
investigation, and your evident inaction implies you are exhausted or hoping there is a way this case would die a natural death.
The lawyer told The Zimbabwean that he had been advised by Mhlanga to institute charges against the officers.
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