A MEMBER of the Zimbabwe National Army was on Monday arraigned before a Victoria Falls magistrate for assaulting a police officer. Ruth Ngwenya Own Correspondent Brian Ndlovu (23), currently based at Infantry Battalion in Hwange, pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting Matetsi police officer Jacob Kuzipa when he appeared before magistrate Sharon Rosemani.
“I don’t admit to the charges levelled against me because at the time that is mentioned, l had already gone home,” he said in his defence.
Prosecutor Takunda Ndovorwi told the court that on January 1 at around 1:20am the complainant, who was on duty at Chikandakubi in company of three other police officers, approached and arrested Jorum Ndlovu who was facing assault charges.
As the police officers were taking Jorum away, Brian appeared from a crowd and hit Kuzipa with a log at the back and he fell. Jorum escaped arrest.
“When we tried to arrest Jorum Ndlovu, he called Brian Ndlovu’s name asking him to rescue him,” Kuzipa told the court.
“The accused hit me from behind with a log and l fell down.”
Kuzipa said they, however, managed to apprehend Jorum and put him in their vehicle, but Brian was following right behind them threatening to assault the police officers with the log and demanding they release his friend.
Jorum, who is also a member of the army, faced accusations of assaulting Saviors Dube (32) for switching off a radio on December 26 at Maggie Moyo’s homestead in Jambezi.
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“We were enjoying ourselves drinking beer and playing music using my instruments at around 6pm, l decided to switch off the instruments and take them back home, which angered Ndlovu, leading to him assaulting me,” Dube said.
Dube said Jorum had kicked him all over the body and assulated him with fists. He sustained an eye injury.
Jorum admitted to the charges, but said he had done so out of drunkenness and to show remorse he had taken care of the complainant’s medical expenses.
Jorum was sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended on condition that he performs 105 hours of community service at Matetsi Primary School.
Brian was remanded out of custody to January 19 for continuation of trial.
