A HARARE-BASED soldier has been fined after he publicly insulted cops by mentioning their mothers’ private parts while driving towards Plumtree Town.
Mthabisi Mthimkhulu (22), who resides at Figtree, is a soldier stationed at HQ Presidential Guard.
The court heard that Mthimkhulu saw a uniformed police officer, Sergeant Sibusisiwe Nzombe, who was standing by the road side in the company of two other people and lashed out at the police detail and police in general.
He was ordered to pay a $50 fine when he was convicted by Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa for undermining police authority.
In case of default Mthimkhulu will spend 15 days in prison.
The court heard that Mthimkhulu was travelling along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Highway in the company of an unknown accomplice when he saw the police officer at the 99,8 kilometre peg.
Mthimkhulu, who admitted to insulting police, told the court that he had acted under the influence of alcohol.
“I do admit that I insulted cops and it was all because I was drunk. I had taken too much beer and I was not fully aware of what I was doing because I would never insult the police or undermine their authority on purpose Your Worship.
“I am a family man and the only bread winner at home, please be lenient with me,” said Mthimkhulu as he begged for the court’s mercy.
Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said Mthimkhulu insulted the police officers on 13 May around 2pm.
He said Sgt Nzombe was in the company of two other people and she was on her way to a police roadblock a few metres away to assume her duties.
“Mthimkhulu and his accomplice were passing by and when they saw Sgt Nzombe they started insulting police officers in isiNdebele.
“They proceeded towards Plumtree Town and Sgt Nzombe signalled a police vehicle that was heading towards the police station to collect her in order to pursue Mthimkhulu’s vehicle,” said Mr Mazorodze.
He said Sgt Nzombe together with the police officer who was driving the police vehicle arrested Mthimkhulu while his accomplice fled from the scene.
In another incident, a 34-year-old woman has withdrawn assault charges against her 22-year-old abusive live-in soldier boyfriend who stabbed her eight times after citing that her lover had apologised for his actions.
Rosemary Dube, who stays in George Silundika area, was admitted to hospital for five days at the Plumtree District Hospital following the vicious attack by her lover recently.
Dube stated in her withdrawal affidavit that she had reconciled with the abusive Melusi Ncube (22), who is stationed at 1.3 Infantry Battalion.
“My boyfriend has apologised for his actions and I have forgiven him. He told me that what happened was a mistake as he was drunk. I do not want him to go to prison and I am not the one who made the police report in the first place.
“Some police officers walked on him assaulting me and they arrested him immediately. We have discussed the incident as a family and we have resolved it and that is why I have decided to withdraw the charges,” said Dube.
Ncube appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa who told him that the charges which had been laid against him had been withdrawn.
Ncube stabbed Dube eight times all over the body with a knife leaving her severely wounded after a drinking spree.
He appeared in court recently facing assault charges and was due for trial.
The circumstances of the incident which were presented before court by prosecutor Mr Elisha Mazorodze were that Ncube arrived at his home on 25 April around 4am and started insulting and threatening to kill his girlfriend.
Dube, realising that she was in possible danger, fled to make a report at the police station where she was advised to proceed to the court to seek a protection order against her boyfriend as she complained that he was abusive.
On her way home, she met her boyfriend who was armed with a knife and he stabbed her twice on the right hand, five times on the left hand and once on the head.
Dube was rescued by a passer-by.