FOOLS Investments mining company corporate rescue practitioner Dumisani Dube has petitioned the national Police Director Criminal Investigations, Commissioner Crispen Charumbira, complaining against six alleged bogus police officers, including an ex-Assistant Commissioner Victor Jaja, for terrorising workers and officials at the Hope Fountain-based mine.
The skirmishes left one person for dead.
Jaja is one of the five alleged extortion gang that is accused of previously masquerading as military intelligence and police details, name-dropping members of the First Family before extorting around US$55 300 from mining firms in the Matabeleland region on several occasions.
Other four who are his alleged accomplices are Munyaradzi Charakupa, Tawanda Mangi, Paul Chakaingesu and Percy Pemba and were all denying the charges laid against them when they appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Shepherd Mjanja.
They have since been acquitted on one count of extorting US$40 000, while other counts are still pending trial.
While the trials that involve him are pending, Jaja, Charakupa and Mangi are now being implicated in another similar case in which they are said to have been involved in the assault and attempted murder case at the Fools Investments Mine.
In a letter dated April 4 directed to Charumbira, Dube complained that six bogus police officers, including Jaja, pounced at Fools Investments Mine on April 3.
“The said Victor Jaja was in the company of five other males in police uniform and one female lady and one female officer. They said they are on an operation sanctioned by Police General Headquarters,” Dube wrote.
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“They were in a Toyota Hilux GD6 registration number AGQ 7509 owned by XXXXX Seeds (Pvt) Ltd of XXX Brookway Borrowdale, Harare and a kombi motor vehicle, full of unidentified assailants. Allied Security personnel who were manning the gate duly complied with police instructions and opened the gate allowing the convoy access.”
He said immediately after entering the mine premises, they started assaulting all mine workers with batons, knives, machetes, shovels and picks which they were carrying and forcibly took over control of the mine.
“When I received the phone call, I immediately called a Detective Chief Inspector Dube, Officer-in-Charge Minerals, Bulawayo, a Chipira, minerals co-ordinator Matabeleland South and a Nyamukope, Officer-in-Charge of Crime, Hillside, respectively, to confirm whether there is any lawful operation they are conducting at Fools Mine,” reads the letter.
“They all denied such knowledge and Nyamakope immediately drove to the scene to attend to the situation on the ground.
“On site, Hillside Police officers apprehended Charakupa, Pemba, Mangi and Sindiso Nkathazo, while Jaja fled with his other accomplices in a kombi with South African-registered number plates.”
The mine employees were attacked using knives, picks and shovels in the presence of six police officers in police uniform led by Jaja, who introduced himself to the employees as a retired Assistant Commissioner.
“This was done in the presence of Allied Security personnel, who were fully armed with six rifles and dogs, but could not do anything as they believed Jaja was leading a lawful operation in the presence of six uniformed police officers, with one wearing Chief Inspector badges. I then rushed to Hillside Police Station and made a formal report under CR04/25,” Dube wrote.
“A number of our employees were injured as noted in the request for medical reports Form 234 completed at 6:50pm by Officer Machimba. I attach hereto a copy thereof and picture which shows that Michael Sibanda was cut by a knife on the backside of his head and sustained a deep cut. He was admitted at United Bulawayo Hospitals.”
Dube said a case of attempted murder has been opened and is under investigation and Mangi and one Sindiso Nkathazo are in custody and they will appear in Kezi Court, Matobo, on April 20.
“What is concerning is that ‘bogus’ police officers were used to commit these atrocious attacks on innocent citizens. The mystery of police officers in uniform led by Jaja remains unresolved. Officer-in-Charge Crime Hillside and Allied Security personnel can also attest or verify that six police officers were part of this gruesome and unwarranted attack on our employees,” Dube wrote.
“Jaja, Mangi, Pemba and Charakupa are on bail facing charges of impersonating police officers, robbery and extortion under CR 46-49/25. We, therefore, request that your esteemed office investigates this matter which warrants your urgent attention.”
The letter was copied to Officer-in-Charge Minerals Police General Headquarters, Harare, Minerals co-ordinator Matabeleland South province, Gwanda, Acting Officer-in-Charge Plumtree, Officer-in-Charge Matopo Police, Officer-in-Charge Crime Hillside Police Station and chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, among others.
A police request for a medical report for Sibanda, who was bludgeoned by the riotous gang dated April 3, was also attached.
“Would you please have this person examined by a medical practitioner, and the appropriate medical examination report form must be completed,” it read in part.
Details filed by the medical practitioner states that Sibanda sustained a deep cut after being stabbed by a knife to the back of his head.
It also said he was assaulted all over the body, adding that he sustained bruises on his back.
On Tuesday, Dube said he was awaiting a response from Charumbira.
