The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Weekender Correspondent
A Mutare city cop who spiked a vehicle in the central business district causing damages worth $250 has been dragged before the courts facing malicious damage to property charges.
City of Mutare municipality security officer Ehud Musariranwa (50), was taken to court for damaging Nyasha Kavhukatema’s Honda Fit with a spike. Masariranwa was not asked to plead to the charge when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Perseverance Makala on Friday. He was being represented by Mutare lawyer, Mrs Chipo Cynthia Kanengoni of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners.
Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted. Allegations were that on September 15, at Meikles Park and along Hebert Chitepo Street, Kavhukatema was driving his Honda Fit vehicle when he slowed down to check for someone he intended to pick up. He accelerated as he wanted to turn to the right but failed because of two council vehicles that were speeding behind him.
He gave way to the two city vehicles so that they overtake him, one vehicle, however, overtook his Honda Fit and parked in the parking bay. As he proceeded, he heard a strange noise from under his vehicle before the vehicle stopped suddenly.
A crowd gathers around the vehicle damaged by the spike
Kavhukatema disembarked from the car and found that his vehicle’s right rear tyre and fender were damaged after having been allegedly spiked by Ehud Murasiranwa who was in the city vehicle. He checked around and found city council police jumping into their vehicles just before they allegedly sped off from the scene.
A few hours later, Mutare city council personnel arrived with Road Angels tow vehicle and towed the vehicle, ordering Kavhukatema to follow them to their offices at Civic Centre. When he arrived at the offices, he was ordered to pay an $80 fine because his vehicle had damaged their spike after he had parked at a prohibited place.
“After disagreeing with the municipality cops that he would not pay the fine, they told Kavhukatema that he would not collect his vehicle until he paid the said amount,” said Mr Karombe.
Murasiranwa was being charged with malicious damage to property as defined in Section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. The matter was adjourned to October 6 for trial. Musariranwa was remanded out of custody on his own cognizance.
