City Of Harare Suspends Officer Caught Assaulting Woman On Camera

The City of Harare has announced that a municipal police officer who was recorded in a viral video slapping a woman in a council banking hall in Mbare has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing.

City of Harare corporate communications manager Stanley Gama confirmed the development on Saturday, saying the officer was off duty at the time of the incident.

“What he did was unacceptable, and he has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing,” said Gama.

“It’s not council policy to engage in violence, more so beating up a woman like that. The officer should have restrained himself.

“The City of Harare has in excess of 10 000 employees and the violent conduct of the suspended officer does not in any way represent what the City stands for. Details of the hearing will be shared with the public.”

On Friday, the City of Harare said the off-duty officer went to the banking hall and jumped the queue, which infuriated the woman.

According to the woman’s own written account, she confronted the officer, pushing and shoving him.

The city said it had gathered that the woman also bit the officer on the finger and that he had to be treated at a clinic.

This resulted in an altercation, and the officer slapped the woman. They were both arrested by police for public violence and were both released.

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