Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A
40 year-old Mwenezi man who resides in Mudzungudzi village, Chingwizi under
Chief Chitanga was recently left nursing a serious head scar after security
guards with the Zimbabwe Bio Energy (ZBE) game ranch hit him with the butt of a
gun.
40 year-old Mwenezi man who resides in Mudzungudzi village, Chingwizi under
Chief Chitanga was recently left nursing a serious head scar after security
guards with the Zimbabwe Bio Energy (ZBE) game ranch hit him with the butt of a
gun.
Samuel
Mudzungudzi Told TellZim News he was attacked by the security guards after a misunderstanding
which arose after his son was accused of trespassing into the game ranch.
Mudzungudzi Told TellZim News he was attacked by the security guards after a misunderstanding
which arose after his son was accused of trespassing into the game ranch.
“Five
ZBE game ranch security personnel arrived at my homestead and wanted to take
away my son with them. They accused him of getting into their area without
permission when he was trying to gather up his cattle.
ZBE game ranch security personnel arrived at my homestead and wanted to take
away my son with them. They accused him of getting into their area without
permission when he was trying to gather up his cattle.
“We
had an argument and I was insisting that they could not take him alone as he
was still a minor. I was sure they were going to severely assault him if he was
to go alone. One of the security guards then hit me on the head using the butt
of his gun. I fell down and remained unconscious for some time,” said Mudzungudzi.
had an argument and I was insisting that they could not take him alone as he
was still a minor. I was sure they were going to severely assault him if he was
to go alone. One of the security guards then hit me on the head using the butt
of his gun. I fell down and remained unconscious for some time,” said Mudzungudzi.
Mudzungudzi,
who received treatment at Mwenezi Clinic and was advised to see a doctor for
further treatment, said he was surprised by how the police handled the case.
who received treatment at Mwenezi Clinic and was advised to see a doctor for
further treatment, said he was surprised by how the police handled the case.
“When
we arrived at Mwenezi Police Station, I was surprised when I was ordered to pay
a fine of $10 for an offense I didn’t know. I was instructed to pay that fine
before 15 November,” said Mudzungudzi.
we arrived at Mwenezi Police Station, I was surprised when I was ordered to pay
a fine of $10 for an offense I didn’t know. I was instructed to pay that fine
before 15 November,” said Mudzungudzi.
Although
repeated efforts to get the side of the story from the police and ZBE Mwenezi
were fruitless, Ward 13 councillor Takura Mudavose also confirmed the incident
and expressed concerns over the increase in cases of abuse of villagers by ZBE game
security personnel.
repeated efforts to get the side of the story from the police and ZBE Mwenezi
were fruitless, Ward 13 councillor Takura Mudavose also confirmed the incident
and expressed concerns over the increase in cases of abuse of villagers by ZBE game
security personnel.
“We
are receiving complainants almost on a daily basis with regards to the conduct
of ZBE game security. Some villagers could be wrong in their conduct but the
game ranch security are always heavy-handed and are taking the law into their
own hands,” said Mudavose.
are receiving complainants almost on a daily basis with regards to the conduct
of ZBE game security. Some villagers could be wrong in their conduct but the
game ranch security are always heavy-handed and are taking the law into their
own hands,” said Mudavose.
ZBE,
which is often in the limelight all for the wrong reasons that include the
abuse of workers, is owned by controversial businessman Billy Rautenbach.
which is often in the limelight all for the wrong reasons that include the
abuse of workers, is owned by controversial businessman Billy Rautenbach.