Zimpapers Logo

Lovemore Meya, Harare Bureau
A 25-year-old Chitungwiza man allegedly gouged a policeman’s eye after hitting him with an empty beer bottle following a misunderstanding, the court heard yesterday.

Fanuel Tapera of no fixed aboard, however, denied the assault charges when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Lazarus Murendo.
Tapera was remanded in custody to today for trial.

Prosecutor Tatenda Mukatera, told the court that Constable Muyeye Mufudzi, 29, stationed at Chitungwiza Police Station was at Unit N shopping centre at around 10pm in the same location.

Const Mufudzi was in the company of Const Prosper Mabvundwi and his relative Fidelis Chiwa.

When they were leaving, Chiwa reversed his vehicle and it bumped into Tapera’s car.

Chiwa disembarked from his vehicle and tried to negotiate with Tapera while Const Mufudzi and Mabvundwi remained inside.

Shortly, Chiwa came into the vehicle with the intention to remove the car from the road to clear the way for other motorists.

This did not go down well with Tapera who followed Chiwa and switched off the engine.

Const Mufudzi disembarked from their vehicle and tried to reason with Tapera to park his vehicle off the road.

However, Tapera became violent and charged at Const Mufudzi ordering him to stop interfering in the matter.

Tapera allegedly armed himself with an empty beer bottle and hit Const Mufudzi once in his left eye.

Const Mufudzi started bleeding profusely.

Const Mufudzi rushed back to their vehicle while Tapera allegedly threw a stone hitting the rear windscreen.

After the incident, the trio rushed Const Mufudzi to Chitungwiza Central Hospital for treatment.

Const Mufudzi’s eye was removed due to the injuries sustained.