City of Harare Suspends Municipal Police Officer After Viral Mbare Assault Video

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

The City of Harare has suspended a municipal police officer who was captured on video slapping a woman inside a council banking hall in Mbare, following widespread public outrage over the incident. The off-duty officer was filmed striking the woman after a heated altercation inside the banking hall. The footage, which quickly went viral on social media, prompted calls from residents and civic groups for disciplinary action against the officer.

The suspension comes a day after the local authority apologised over the incident and confirmed that both the officer and the woman had been arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on allegations of public violence before being released pending investigations.

City of Harare Corporate Communications Manager Stanley Gama confirmed that the officer had been suspended while internal disciplinary proceedings are conducted.

"What he did was unacceptable, and he has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing. It's not council policy to engage in violence, more so beating up a woman like that. The officer should have restrained himself," Gama said.

He said the disciplinary process would determine the appropriate sanction in accordance with the council's employment procedures.

Gama stressed that the officer's actions did not reflect the values or standards of the local authority.

"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," he said.

He added that the City would make the outcome of the disciplinary hearing public once the process had been concluded.

The incident reportedly began after the off-duty officer allegedly jumped a queue in the banking hall, leading to a confrontation with the woman. In an earlier statement, the City said the woman alleged she confronted the officer, and that the altercation escalated before the officer slapped her. Police investigations into the incident are continuing.

The suspension has generated mixed reactions on social media, with many residents welcoming the decision while others argued that stronger disciplinary action was warranted. Some questioned whether the council would have acted had the incident not been recorded and shared online, expressing concern about accountability and oversight of municipal officers. Others called for the officer's dismissal, while some urged the City to ensure that any disciplinary action complies with labour laws and the council's code of conduct.

The incident is the latest to place the City of Harare under public scrutiny following another controversy involving a City Parking marshal who allegedly clamped a mother's vehicle while she was attempting to rush her sick child to hospital. The back-to-back incidents have intensified calls for improved training, professionalism and customer service among municipal employees who regularly interact with members of the public.

City of Harare municipal police suspension