A police officer stationed at Glenorah Police Station who allegedly stripped naked Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) Programmes Officer, Pride Mkono, is on trial for cellphone theft.
The cop who is from Glen Norah Police Station, one Kapfunde, who was part of a group of riot police officers who ruthless beat up Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) President, Obert Masarure and Programmes Officer, Pride Mkono, on the 28th of December 2015 will appear in court facing assault charges.
The matter will be heard at Mbare Magistrate Court in court 4 at 1115hrs and allegations against Kapfunde are that on the 28th of December 2015 around 0130hrs he arrested Mkono before assaulting him which a button stick, booted feet and open hands. He also stripped Mkono naked and dipped him in water claiming that it was ‘baptism’ for increasing the police workload at a time when they had not been paid.
Mkono was in the company of Masaraure and other activists and they were coming from a planning meeting for a bonus demonstration.
Mkono sustained injuries on his buttocks, shoulders, groin and suffered a fractured rib as a result of the brutal beating which Kapfunde subjected the activist to, and a medical report to that effect is before the courts.
The report of assault was only filed after award-winning human rights lawyer Gift Mtisi had implored that the police allow Mkono to get medical attention.
Kapfunde is also set to appear in another separate case for assaulting RTUZ President, Masararure and answer to allegations of stealing his mobile phone Huawei Ascend 5 handset.
In this matter Mkono will appear as the complainant while Masaraure is the state witness on the case.