NEGLECTED DUTY: Gutu Police Boss in Court After Suspended Officer Shoots Passenger

MASVINGO — The Gutu CID Officer-in-Charge, Inspector Edward Chiweta, has appeared before the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court facing charges of gross negligence of duty. The charges stem from the unauthorized deployment of a suspended junior officer, Constable Farai Simudzirai, who subsequently allegedly shot and killed a passenger on the Beitbridge–Masvingo Highway. The case, currently before Magistrate Misheck Brian Munyaradzi, highlights a grave breakdown in administrative oversight, with Inspector Chiweta accused of contravening Paragraph 34 of the Schedule to the Police Act [Chapter 11:10].

The State alleges that Inspector Chiweta willfully bypassed established police regulations by returning Constable Farai Simudzirai (43) to active duty on March 16, 2025. At the time, Simudzirai had been on suspension since July 23, 2024, following a directive from the then-Officer Commanding Masvingo Province, Commissioner Crispen Charumbira. Simudzirai was facing serious criminal allegations related to the April 2024 murder of Constable Privilege Hove in Karoi. Prosecutors contend that Chiweta was fully aware of this suspension, having personally witnessed the serving of the notice, and had no legal authority to override a mandate issued by a Commissioner.

The consequences of the deployment turned deadly shortly after Simudzirai returned to the field. While travelling in an unmarked vehicle with another officer, Simudzirai attempted to intercept a Mazda B1800 near Rutenga, Mwenezi. The driver of the vehicle, fearing a criminal robbery rather than a legitimate police stop, accelerated away. During the subsequent chase, Simudzirai opened fire on the vehicle. The pursuit ended at a police roadblock, where it was discovered that 24-year-old passenger Shadreck Madzore had been fatally shot. The victims were reportedly returning from a family gathering when the incident occurred.

As the trial progresses, the court is expected to hear testimony from key witnesses, including the accused Constable Simudzirai himself, Officer Simbabure, and Chief Superintendent Tshuma. The State’s case centers on the assertion that Chiweta’s decision to ignore a direct administrative order constituted an "improper performance of duty," creating the conditions that led to the death of a civilian. The trial continues as the court examines the chain of command failures that allowed an officer under a murder suspension to carry a service weapon on public roads.

Edward Chiweta negligence charge Masvingo