Police brutality exposed after suspect is tortured, dies in custody

By James Muonwa l Mashonaland West Correspondent

THREE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) special constabulary details have come under heavy fire for allegedly severely assaulting a suspect to death inside holding cells at Banket Police Station.

In a bid to conceal the cold-blooded murder of David Kanyenze (26), ZRP Banket reportedly wanted to open a sudden death docket (SDD), but relatives blocked the move and demanded a full investigation into the suspected gruesome killing.

Sources told NewZimbabwe.com that the three ZRP Neighbourhood Watch Committee (NWC) members in question took turns to beat up Kanyenze on Friday evening using unidentified objects resulting in him sustaining grievous bodily injuries. One of them stomped the suspect twice on the neck, thereby choking him.

The now-deceased’s older brother, Brian Kanyenze, expressed grief and shock over his sibling’s death.

“I am deeply hurt. Even if he was a vagabond, he didn’t deserve to die in this manner. He was young, aged only 26, and at that age to err is expected he could have gone to jail for his offense and came out a reformed person,” said Brian.

The late David Kanyenze

It is said the now deceased, a tout for pirate taxis plying the Banket—Chinhoyi route, was wanted by police for malicious damage to property after allegedly destroying a weighing scale at a butchery at Kuwadzana shopping centre in Banket.

The butchery equipment was damaged three weeks ago in an altercation between workers at an adjacent canteen and Kanyenze, who refused to pay for food complaining it was poorly cooked.

Following his arrest early last week, Kanyenze was hauled to Banket police where he was thrown into cells but later escaped from lawful custody.

He was re-arrested on Friday at Kuwadzana shops by NWC members and, again, taken to the station, where they started beating him up around 5pm.

They later abandoned the bloodied victim in the cell battling for his life.

Other cell inmates are said to have raised alarm after sensing Kanyenze was having difficulties in breathing. He was then rushed to Banket District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“As relatives, we were never informed about our brother’s arrest, assault and later admission to hospital. We demand justice against the killers because we are fully aware of attempts to cover up the murder,” said Brian, who learned of his brother’s death through the grapevine.

Efforts to get a comment from ZRP national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi were fruitless by the time of publishing.

WATCH: The now-deceased’s older brother, Brian Kanyenze speaks to NewZimbabwe.com