A 39-year-old Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer stationed at ZRP Ruwa has been arrested for allegedly beating a suspect to death while trying to force him to pay a US$100 bribe.
The victim, Blessed Believe Juruvenge (30) from Damafalls, died shortly after being arrested on May 27, 2025, by the officer, Prince Ndabambi, in connection with an assault case.
The incident reportedly began on May 25, when Juruvenge got into an altercation with a man named Mwazha, who had allegedly used a counterfeit US$50 note to buy groceries at Juruvenge’s tuckshop.
Mwazha initially offered to pay US$100 in compensation, but later reported Juruvenge to the police, accusing him of assault.
Two days later, Mwazha accompanied Ndabambi to Juruvenge’s home, where Juruvenge was arrested along with his sister, Melisa Manyepa, who was accused of harbouring a suspect.
According to a police memo seen by ZimLive, the officer took Manyepa behind a cabin and beat her on the knees with a wooden stick.
He later turned on Juruvenge, allegedly beating him all over the body with the same stick.
Juruvenge was being held under case number DB 460/25 at the time of the incident. The memo reads:
He ordered the deceased and his sister to refund Mwazha his US$100. The accused person also threatened to kill the now deceased if he fails to refund the money.
Ndabambi allegedly demanded a further US$100 from Juruvenge and his sister in exchange for their release.
He reportedly told Melisa to call family members to raise the money, but they were unable to do so.
Ndabambi is said to have continued assaulting Juruvenge until he lost consciousness. When he realised that Juruvenge could no longer walk, he dragged him to the holding cells and left him there.
Later that night, another officer on duty noticed Juruvenge was struggling to breathe and speak, and made a note of it in the police incident book.
Juruvenge was eventually taken to the Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre, where he died on the morning of May 28.
More: ZimLive
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