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Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
A member of a Neighbourhood Watch Committee, Tawanda Mawonera (39) of Zengeza 1, Chitungwiza, was yesterday sentenced to one-and-a-half years in jail for beating up a female police officer who demanded identification to prove that he was a genuine officer.

His wife, Ndaizivei Jonas (33), was also arrested for hiding a police uniform at their house. The incident occurred last Thursday at around midday. The couple appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo yesterday.

Mawonera pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a peace officer, while his wife admitted to obstruction of public officials. Mawonera was sentenced to two years in prison with six months suspended for five years, while the wife was fined $100 or 20 days in jail.

Prosecuting, Mr Tatenda Mukatera said Mawonera went to St Mary’s Police Station where Constable Molly Dongo (48) was on duty. Mawonera advised Cst Dongo that he was a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee and wished to work with them.

Another officer, identified only as Katsedemo, advised him to bring a transfer advice slip and recommendation letter from a Community Liaison Officer from his previous station.

The requirements were to be accompanied by his police file but he only produced his recommendation letter. Cst Dongo took the letter and noted that it was from Victoria Falls to Nyamapanda. This led to Cst Dongo to become suspicious of Mawonera and asked him if he had a police uniform at home.

He told the officers that he had a full kit, but left it in Nyamapanda before claiming that it was in Victoria Falls. When asked for a force number, Mawonera failed to provide one. After noting the anomalies, Cst Dongo told Mawonera that they were going to check if he had no police uniform at his house.

The officers took him to their car and Mawonera sent a text message to his wife informing her to hide the bag containing the uniform. When they arrived, it was discovered that he had sent a message to his wife leading to her arrest. This did not go down with Mawonera who kicked Cst Madondo in the chest and she fell down. Mawonera was immediately arrested.