Four prison guards face murder charges after they beat a visitor at a government building in downtown Harare. The victim later died from his injuries. Nqobile Dube (23), Faith Gladman Makoni (29), Godfrey Damu (24), and Munashe Atkins Zvavambire (20) stood before Magistrate Isheunesu Matova Tuesday. The court kept them locked up until next Monday, when they can ask for bail.
The attack happened March 6 between 5 and 6 PM at the Mgandane Dlodlo Building on Central Avenue. Prosecutor Nomsa Kangara told the court that Jeffreys Kandemiiri had come to see his uncle Malvern, who works on the fifth floor. Security staff stopped Jeffreys at first. They chased him away, but he ran into the accused guards on the second floor.
Things turned violent fast. Dube repeatedly kicked Jeffreys in the stomach. Makoni and Damu punched him many times. They dragged him down to the basement, where the beating grew worse. Dube kept kicking him and stood on top of him as he lay on the ground. Damu hit his legs with a broomstick, making him cry out in pain. Makoni and Damu struck his back and face. Zvavambire slapped him and poured water all over him.
The brutal attack only stopped when other workers stepped in. The guards forced Jeffreys to leave the building. He made it to the Simon Vengayi Muzenda Bus stop before he passed out. Kind strangers helped him home, where he spent the night in terrible pain from his internal injuries. His mother took him to a clinic in Mabvuku the next day. Doctors sent him straight to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Jeffreys fought for his life for seven days at the hospital. He died March 14 around 12:47 AM from what doctors called blunt trauma. The beating caused a bad infection in his abdomen. Police arrested all four guards after they finished their investigation. A medical report confirmed the direct link between the beating and his death.
The attack happened March 6 between 5 and 6 PM at the Mgandane Dlodlo Building on Central Avenue. Prosecutor Nomsa Kangara told the court that Jeffreys Kandemiiri had come to see his uncle Malvern, who works on the fifth floor. Security staff stopped Jeffreys at first. They chased him away, but he ran into the accused guards on the second floor.
Things turned violent fast. Dube repeatedly kicked Jeffreys in the stomach. Makoni and Damu punched him many times. They dragged him down to the basement, where the beating grew worse. Dube kept kicking him and stood on top of him as he lay on the ground. Damu hit his legs with a broomstick, making him cry out in pain. Makoni and Damu struck his back and face. Zvavambire slapped him and poured water all over him.
The brutal attack only stopped when other workers stepped in. The guards forced Jeffreys to leave the building. He made it to the Simon Vengayi Muzenda Bus stop before he passed out. Kind strangers helped him home, where he spent the night in terrible pain from his internal injuries. His mother took him to a clinic in Mabvuku the next day. Doctors sent him straight to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Jeffreys fought for his life for seven days at the hospital. He died March 14 around 12:47 AM from what doctors called blunt trauma. The beating caused a bad infection in his abdomen. Police arrested all four guards after they finished their investigation. A medical report confirmed the direct link between the beating and his death.
