Victim wants police dockets reopened

Chigumbura was among most prominent and successful businessmen in the community, but has since been reduced to a pauper by the day-light lootings. The gang of robbers was led by Herity Rukambe of 17 Manda, Dombotombo. He is employed by the town council here, under Water Works Department.

I consulted Human Rights Lawyers last week Friday, to force police re-open robbery dockets which were opened and closed before investigations in 2003. The robberies took place daylight and there were no genuine reasons for police to refuse carrying out investigations and classifying the cases as politically motivated. Human Rights Lawyers promised to pursue the case until justice was delivered, said a visibly disturbed Chigumbura.

I was a successful Supermarket, Bakery and Security Company businessman before the robbery. Dozens of Zanu (PF) youths led by Rukambe came to my Dombotombo Shop one June 2003 morning and looted shop stocks since MDC was not allowed to run businesses in Marondera. The following day they looted everything on sight at my Longlands Bakery. This included groceries and cash. Rukambe said they were instructed by their superior Lawrence Katsiru, to shut-down businesses run by MDC activists.

I made a police report and a robbery dockets CR 18/06/03 DR A/179/03 and CR 72/06/03 DR 22/06/03 were opened. A few days later the dockets were closed without investigations carried out, record U/D INC A 179/03. Police officers Hungwe, Chinomona and Kasu, said they could not investigate since the case was politically motivated, he said.

Chigumbura said he has been in the struggle for democracy since 1999 and would not rest his case until justice prevailed.

If I surrender to injustice and tyranny, as a leader I would have set a bad precedence regarding future pursuit of similar cases affecting other helpless people across the country. I remain positive that the long arm of law would catch up with criminals across the political divide when democracy finally prevails, Chigumbura added.