They were told Tafadzwa was ‘hit’ by a car along the Harare-Mutare road near town as he was accompanied by three police constabulary officers, Wellington Jeche, Smoko and Chiyeza, to Marondera Police Central District holding cells in the evening. Police say he was trying to escape from lawful arrest when he was hit by the car. He was hand-cuffed from behind.
His parents are not convinced about the circumstances of their son’s death. “We know nothing can bring back our son to life, but the police should at least give us a convincing explanation of how he died.
According to eye witnesses, police beat him into a human cabbage at Dombotombo Police Station before transferring him to the district holding cells. Given that he was hand-cuffed from the back and in such a battered state, how could he possibly out-pace three police details and run into a passing vehicle? We believe that police are supposed to ensure the safety of accused people in their custody.”
A police application for Post Mortem Examination regarding the case RRB 1592940, suggested “Deceased was a pedestrian and was hit by a motor vehicle whilst trying to escape from lawful arrest.” The examining medical doctor, DR Thembani, of Marondera General Hospital, described the cause of death as severe head injuries.
Given prevailing mistrust between police and residents, rumours have it that the deceased could have been pushed into the passing vehicle by the arresting police officers. The accusations are denied by the police. Tafadzwa’s mother, Betty, is an MDC-T district executive member.
Circumstances surrounding the incident were made more mysterious by claims that the deceased was savagely beaten up by police at Dombotombo Police Station, with hands tied to office burglar bars before being ‘unprocedurally’ transferred to the district holding cells. It is alleged that a detention order was issued by Woman Constable Rosemary Chitivasora, before a docket was opened.
The accused was made to walk to the district police station despite the Dombotombo Police Station having a mobile patrol vehicle. He was accused of violent behaviour and attempting to steal a mobile phone.
Relatives, who prepared the body for burial last week on Tuesday, said the deceased sustained a broken arm, wounds and bruises in the head, back and several parts of the body. “Some wounds and swellings were characteristic of severe beating.”
Relatives disputed the outcome of the Post Mortem and only agreed to bury the body provided thorough police investigations would be conducted and if need be, an independent Post Mortem.
Police assured them that justice would be done and called on people with information that could assist their investigations to come forward.
The accused constabulary police officers were reportedly made to sign police cautioned statements as investigations regarding the incident continue.
Post published in: News