Top cop approaches court to challenge retirement

Officer-in-Charge of Hwange Police Station, Chief Inspector Samuel Tadzaushe, has approached the Bulawayo High Court challenging the decision by his employer to turn down his application for an extension of his employment contract.

Chief Inspector Tadzaushe who is set to retire this Friday, claimed he realised his application for extension of service was turned down due to personal differences with Officer Commanding Matabeleland North, Assistant Commissioner Frederick Mbengwa.

Through his lawyers, Hove and Associates Legal Practitioners, Tadzaushe filed an application under case number 1490/20, citing Commissioner Patson Nyabadza, Officer Commanding Police Matabeleland North Assistant Commissioner Frederick Mbengwa and Commissioner-General of Police Commissioner Godwin Matanga as respondents.

In his application, Chief Inspector Tadzaushe who is also a war veteran attached a letter from the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs that stated he “needs to enjoy any privileges that can be enjoyed by other comrades and collaborators who are attheched the Police Organisation.”

“On August 17, 2020, Chief Superintendent Zulu called me to his office and showed me a correspondence that had been written to the Officer Commanding Police Matabeleland North Province by Commissioner Nyabadza.

He went on to list several reasons that should have been considered by ZRP before discharging him of his duties. 

“My Honourable Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs’ recommendations on me as a war veteran which are attached to this affidavit should have been considered. My explanation that I have been always rated above average at Annual Inspections as an Officer –In- Charge at various stations should have been considered.

“The fact that I received a Memorandum of good work attached to this affidavit as Annexure ‘C’ from the High Court officials for Proper Management of Serious Cases should have been considered. The fact that I recently assessed by the Inspectorate team from Police General Headquarters who rated me above average should have been considered. The fact that I do not have any conviction in terms of our Police Act Code of Discipline and that I was never convicted of any criminal offence should have been considered,” reads Tadzaushe’s application.

Chief Inspector Tadazaushe also cited the current Covid-19 outbreak as another reason why the organisation should not discharge him from the police service.

“The fact that we are in a serious situation of the Covid-19 pandemic which has social and economic hardships should have been considered.

“I feel that in the absence of personal hatred, I meet all the qualifications to be considered for service. I have not yet reached the age of 55 years, which under normal circumstances is the required age for a member not to be considered for extension of service,”  Tadzaushe further submitted.

Last year, Chief Inspector Tadzaushe who was then Of­fi­cer-in-Charge of Tsholot­sho Po­lice Sta­tion was accused of ex­tor­tion, tak­ing bribes, abuse of of­fice and ha­rass­ment among a num­ber of com­plaints made by his sub­or­di­nates resulting in a two paged complaint filed against him to his superiors.

The respondents are yet to submit their opposing papers.