Man Shot Dead After Attempting To Free Detained Friend
A police officer from Mkoba, Gweru in Zimbabwe has been charged with murder after fatally shooting a man named Bongani Ndlovu who intended to free his detained friend. The incident occurred on Boxing Day when the officer, identified as 19-year-old Kudakwashe Gurajena, and his colleagues were on patrol. They encountered a rowdy group attempting to free a friend who had been arrested for disorderly conduct, ZimLive reported citing a police memo.
According to the memo, Ndlovu aggressively confronted the officer and his colleagues, throwing stones and demanding the release of his friend. Ndlovu allegedly snatched handcuffs and keys from an officer, threatening to stab him with an Okapi knife.
Reinforcement was called, but Ndlovu managed to escape. However, he returned to the police station later armed with the same knife, persisting in his violent attempt to free his friend. The officers surrounded Ndlovu and instructed him to surrender.
Ignoring their commands, Ndlovu charged towards two officers. One of them tripped and dropped his rifle. Gurajena, in response to the imminent threat, picked up the firearm and fired, fatally shooting Ndlovu in the neck. Read the memo in part:
While the accused and his team were escorting Tafadzwa Ndlela and other accused persons to the police station, the now deceased started throwing stones at the police officers ordering them to release his friends.
The stones hit P/Cst Musazulwa on the right lower leg and P/Cst Masango on the right hip. They sustained a swollen leg and a swollen hip respectively.
The now deceased who was armed with an okapi knife snatched handcuffs and keys from P/Cst Masango threatening to stab him.
Police called for reinforcement from Mkoba police station, when it arrived Bongani Ndhlovu ran away and the police officers failed to apprehend him. A report of Assault was made at ZRP Mkoba RRB 5816501 refers.
Bongani Ndlovu continued his violent attempt to free his friend at Mkoba police station. He arrived at the station and shouted, demanding the release of his friend while threatening to harm one of the police officers with a knife he was holding.
The police officers, including Sergeant Ncube, Sergeant Mushai, Constable Motsi, Constable Shava, Constable Svova, Constable Mafios, Police Constable Gurajena, Police Constable Gobvu, and Police Constable Musazulwa, were instructed to surround Ndlovu and arrest him.
Sergeant Ncube was armed with an F/N rifle with five rounds, and Constable Shava had a Mosberg rifle with one round. When Ndlovu saw the officers approaching, he started running, and the police pursued him.
At a location near Bata dam, Sergeant Mushai fired three warning shots in the air, urging Ndlovu to surrender and lie down. However, Ndlovu ignored the instructions, charging towards Constable Shava and Police Constable Gurajena with the knife in his hand.
Constable Shava tripped and fell, dropping his rifle. Ndlovu continued to approach them, threatening to harm one of the officers. Gurajena quickly picked up the fallen rifle and fired a single shot at Ndlovu, hitting him in the neck. Ndlovu died instantly.
The scene was attended by officers from ZRP Mkoba, C.I.D Mkoba, and C.I.D Scenes of Crime Gweru. Ndlovu’s body was found lying on its back, facing west, with bloodstains on his white sweater. An Okapi knife was found near his left hand.
The body was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital, where a doctor certified Ndlovu’s death. It was then transferred to the mortuary for a postmortem examination.
