Sources told The Zimbabwean that cops from the community branch of the ZRP were passing sentences on ‘convicted criminals’ that included forcing them to mould bricks.
Ekem Mpofu, a senior neighbourhood watch committee member claimed they had been given the authority to try local offenders by the district police.
The bricks that ‘offenders’ are being forced to mould are reportedly being used in the construction of a police outpost in the area.
This reporter witnessed six offenders, among them teenagers aged between 15 and 18, busy serving their ‘’sentences’’ under the supervision of seven neighbourhood police officers.
Those the NWC finds guilty are also given corporal punishment, according to local residents.
‘‘What is being done here is mindboggling. I sent my child for milling at the grinding mill in the morning only to be informed he spent the whole day moulding bricks and could not even eat. This kind of child abuse should stop,’’ said a disgruntled parent.
His son (15) was accused of ‘‘overspeeding’’ in a donkey cart.
Taurai Maphosa, who has also fallen victim to the NWC, said it was better to mould bricks for a week than to serve a six-month prison sentence. He was “convicted” of verbally abusing an elderly neighbour.
Midlands police spokesperson, Emmanuel Mahoko, said “This is news to me. I will check with our district office but members of the public must desist from reporting their issues to the media.”
Post published in: News