By Own Correspondent| The Harare Municipality Chief Security Officer Collen Tongowona is in the eye of a storm after his son was found in a possession of the municipality’s service firearms but the case was trivialized.
A letter addressed to Head Public Safety from the Chief Traffic Officer one M Chimombe states that on 10th June at Warren Park Police Station a complaint was lodged that Collen Tongowona (Junior ) pointed a firearm at the yet to be identified complainant.
Investigation carried out by ZRP Homicide found out the firearm which was used belonged to the Harare Municipality security boss.
“The ZRP Homicide section investigated the matter and proved that Mr C Tongowona(senior)was in possession of 2 pistols namely SM Pistol Serial No 31337 which was used by the son to commit the offence which was heard at the Magistrate Court CRB 5819/21.
“Detective Sergeant Chindove of ZRP Homicide Section confirmed the findings,” states the letter.
It has since been established that the Harare security boss violated the provisions of the law by illegally possessing the firearms without relevant specific firearm certificate.
The Chief Traffic Officer further says the case shows negligence on the part of Tongowona.
“It is cause of concern that the head of security does not take the Firearms Act precepts seriously including compliance with Standard Operational Procedures for storage of such a deadly weapon .
“Mr C Tongowona’s residence is not a designated council premise to secure the organizational ammunition,” wrote Chimombe.
The Chief Traffic Officer is now being harassed to change his position on the report, sources allege .
This publication found that the Collen Tongowona Junior was given community service for the death threats he made.
A prominent Harare lawyer who spoke to this publication , said it was suspicious that such a case got such a lesser sentence.
“This is just another case of trivializing serious crimes pointing a firearm at someone is a huge crime which warrants a custodial sentence and I think money could have changed hands there,
“The father should have also answered for his gross negligence and it should be established whether both firearms were licensed and does his son’s name appear on who should legally possess the firearms.
“Cases like this need thorough investigation to avoid them recurring again and again,”” said the lawyer who requested anonymity .