Tinotenda Hove – A police officer has been convicted and sentenced after violently assaulting a schoolteacher during an investigation in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe. The officer, Owen Manjengwa, was found guilty of assault after beating the teacher with open hands and a baton stick, causing internal injuries.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of 21 February 2024 at Mhlanguledzi Primary School in Chikombedzi. Manjengwa, who is stationed at Chikombedzi Police Station, was investigating a case of unlawful entry that had been reported the day before.

According to a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) on 8 May 2025, Manjengwa approached a male teacher at the school and informed him he was under arrest. When the teacher denied the allegations, the officer resorted to violence.

“The offender… assaulted him with open hands on the face and with a baton stick on the buttocks, resulting in internal injuries,” the NPAZ said.

Manjengwa, aged 40, was found guilty of assault by the Chikombedzi Magistrates’ Court. He was ordered to pay a US$200 fine, or serve 90 days in prison if he fails to pay. The magistrate also handed down a four-month prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years. This means Manjengwa will avoid imprisonment if he commits no similar offence during the suspension period.

Following the conviction, the NPAZ encouraged Zimbabweans to resolve disputes without resorting to violence. “The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe encourages members of the public to desist from violence and resolve their disputes amicably or seek third-party mediation,” the authority stated.

The case has sparked renewed concerns over the conduct of law enforcement officials. Manjengwa’s conviction comes at a time when public trust in the Zimbabwe Republic Police remains low. A 2023 Afrobarometer survey found that confidence in the police remains fragile, underscoring the need for stronger accountability and reforms.