In a surprising turn of events, former Masvingo mayor, Collin Maboki, has been reported to the police for attempted murder by Zanu PF Masvingo youth mayor facing three counts of assault and one of reckless driving.
Delight Mandeepvu, who was involved in an accident with Maboki’s car on March 3, 2024, took eight weeks to report his attempted murder case. He did not report the case until the police handed him a summons to appear in court on charges of assault.
He will appear in court next Wednesday.
Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Kudakwashe Diwa told The Mirror he needed to look for the report.
According to sources, Mandipvu says that Mabuki broke the former’s leg when he tried to run him over with his car.
He says he got into an altercation with Maboki after their cars turned sideways about 50 kilometers from Masvingo along the Masvingo-Mutare highway.
Efforts to get a comment from Mandeepvu were futile as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Mabok referred the mirror to the police. According to the well-publicized case, Mandipvu who was driving from Masvingo towards Bikita at night was side-struck by a vehicle driven by Maboki’s wife, Tariro, in which Maboki was a passenger. Mandibvu allegedly made a U-turn, drove towards Mabuki’s car and blocked it after 10km.
He allegedly assaulted Mabuki, his wife and relative Simbarashi Matei. While he was bargaining with Mabuki in the middle of the highway, an oncoming car hit his leg and Mabuki managed to jump off the road and survive the accident.
Mandipvu was reported to Masvingo Rural Police Station and a case was opened against him for assault and reckless driving.
Sources said the police were surprised when Mandipvu reported the attempted murder charges after the court date had ended. Sources told the Mirror that there was an unwillingness on the part of the police to open a file until the case was referred to the Law and Order Department.
Mandebvu has a notorious record with the law having been arraigned on charges of stock theft (he was later acquitted), disorderly conduct and taking the law into his own hands, indebtedness and maintenance. He was sued by the late Bikita MP, Kennedy Matimba for non-payment of rents and was in court with his wife for maintenance.
However, cases where complainants against ZANU-PF violence are turned into defendants and arrested by police are common. A recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Zimbabwe revealed that this was common, if not the norm, at Gutu Police Station, where Kamise Myambo is the officer in charge. Masvingo mirror
