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Policeman sues minister and commissioner over job loss
Written by STAFF REPORTER   
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 17:55
kembo_mohadiBULAWAYO - Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi (pictured) and Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri have been taken to court by a police officer who was fired from the force after he left his post at Chiadzwa diamond fields.  
Sergeant Lament Mafuta, based at Fairbridge Support Unit in Bulawayo, lost his job in July. He had spent 14 days in prison and suffered 56 strokes for leaving his guard post.
In papers filed in the High Court last week, and seen by ****The Zimbabwean****, Mafuta cited Mohadi, Chihuri and a Superintendent Rigomeka as respondents.
Mafuta said he had only left his post to search for food in nearby villages, following the Reserve Bank’s failure to provide them with enough to eat.   
“We had gone for three days without a proper meal and with a colleague we went out to look for a goat, which we wanted to exchange for mealie-meal. We were working under RBZ-sponsored operation Hakudzokwi phase two and the bank had failed to supply enough food. We started experiencing problems with our food as we did not have relish and we had to liaise with the locals, who would supply us with the relish,” said Mafuta.
Mafuta said they learnt that there was a visit by one of their bosses, Assistant Commissioner Mathuthu, during their absence and the diamond field had been flooded with illegal panners.
“On the same day we were taken to Mutare for a disciplinary trial. The trial began at 12.30pm at Murahwa Building, which houses the Manicaland provincial police headquarters. All of us were found guilty as charged and were sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment at Chikurubi detention barracks. I indicated that I wanted to appeal against the sentence and I was told that I would appeal while at Chikurubi and I gave up,” said Mafuta.
In July, a board of inquiry into his suitability to remain in the force was convened and he was fired from the force. Mafuta said “The inclusion of Superintendent Mutandwa in the board of inquiry made him an interested party, as he was in Chiadzwa during their time; therefore he could not make a proper recommendation.”

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