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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A policeman was attacked and killed by thugs that operate at Harvest House, the MDC-T headquarters in Harare’s central business district, during illegal and violent demonstration two weeks ago.

Talkmore Phiri (rank not given), was among police officers who had been deployed to the Deeds Office near Harvest House on June 29, where the rogue vendors had allegedly damaged property during the demonstrations.

Three MDC-T officials — YvonneMusarurwa, Last Maengehama and Tungamirai Madzokere — are serving 20-year jail terms for stoning to death police inspector Petros Mutedza in similar circumstances in Glen View in 2011.

Also read:

• 3 MDC-T police killers convicted
• MDC-T cop killers jailed 20yrs each

Phiri and his workmate, Constable Concillia Gumbo, were allegedly stoned and fell from a police vehicle.

It is alleged that the gang caught up with Phiri and further stoned him, before kicking and punching him.

One of the suspects, Barnabas Mwanaka (35) of 10181 Glen View 7, Harare, yesterday appeared in court before Ms Tilda Mazhande facing murder charges.

His accomplices are still at large.

Due to the gravity of the offence he is facing, which is a third schedule offence, Mwanaka was remanded in custody to July 24, with instructions to apply for bail at the High Court.

It is the State’s case that on June 29 at around 4pm, Phiri was on Police Reaction Group duties together with other officers.

They were tasked to escort officers from Harare Central Operations who were going to attend to a case of malicious damage to property at Deeds Office aboard a police vehicle.

The said vendors had allegedly caused the damages during demonstrations.

The prosecutor, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa, alleged that the rogue vendors connived and planned to attack the police officers.

Pursuant to their plan, the gang started throwing missiles towards the cops, the court heard.

Phiri and Cst Gumbo were hit by the missiles and fell from their vehicle.

The court further heard that Mwanaka and his alleged accomplices ran towards the two officers and caught up with Phiri, before attacking him.

Phiri was later rescued by other officers who rushed him to Morris Depot Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mwanaka was arrested on Saturday last week after he was identified by one of the officers who witnessed the murder.

He was also captured on CCTV at the Deeds Offices while committing the crime.