A former policeman, Noel Muzenda (39), has been arrested for child abuse after a viral video showed him assaulting his 10-year-old son with an electric cable and bricks in Eastview, Harare.
The government has now taken custody of the assault victim and his three siblings.
Muzenda was attached to the ZRP Mkushi Training Depot in Harare but was discharged in December 2016 after being convicted of causing a road traffic accident while driving without a licence.
The former cop is accused of severely beating his son for returning home late after being sent to buy tomatoes.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/ex-cop-nabbed-loses-childrens-custody-over-abuse/">The Herald</a> on Tuesday, the boy’s mother, Sarah Mafara (36), said she had gone for a church conference in Hwedza when the assault occurred.
Police confirmed Muzenda’s arrest on Tuesday morning through a post on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. The ZRP said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP takes note of a viral video circulating on social media platforms in which a man is seen brutally assaulting a male juvenile. The ZRP confirms that Noel Muzenda aged 39 was arrested on October 7 in Eastview, Harare, in connection with the case. The police would like to thank the public for providing useful information.
</blockquote>
Muzenda reportedly sent his son to a tuckshop to buy tomatoes, but when the boy didn’t return on time, he went to check on him.
Finding his son playing with other children angered him, and he assaulted the boy with an electric cable, bricks, and a piece of wire. Said ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi:
<blockquote>
This did not go down well with neighbours who took a video of the assault which later went viral on social media. The victim sustained a swollen cheek, and bruises on the back and the right foot. He is complaining of pain in the right ankle. No serious external injuries were observed.
</blockquote>
The Department of Child Social Services promptly arranged for the victim and Muzenda’s three other children to be relocated to a safer place following the incident.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Former policeman Noel Muzenda was arrested for hitting his 10-year-old son in Eastview, Harare, as seen in a viral video. The government now has custody of the boy and his siblings. Muzenda used bricks and an electric cable to hurt his son for coming home late. The police thanked the public for sharing the video and helping catch Muzenda. The boy's mother was away when the incident happened. The boy had bruises and swelling but no serious injuries. The children were moved to a safer place after the assault.

Viral Video Leads To Arrest Of Former Policeman For Assaulting Son

Residents of Epworth and Eastview, among other informal settlements, should not expect to get title deeds anytime soon after a Cabinet minister said the regularisation of such settlements takes time.
In February, President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised to issue 80 000 title deeds ahead of the March by-elections, a development that critics said was a campaign gimmick.
Last week, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said that the issuance of title deeds is not an event but a process. He said:
<blockquote>
People are misunderstanding the issuance of title deeds as an event. It’s not an event, it’s a process.
In the context of Zimbabwe, the issuance of title deeds is two-fold: The first one is an area such as this one where the settlement has been properly planned, roads constructed, water, sewer and everything.
The other one is that we are now looking at informal settlements like Epworth, Caledonia (Eastview) in Goromonzi. This land was invaded by land barons.
It was not transferred from the Lands ministry to the Local Government ministry. That process is now taking place.
You can’t just come and give a person a paper without a description of the property.
So, the process gives rise to the creation of the proper description which appears on the title deed.
The regularisation process is part of the title deeds issuance process.
</blockquote>
Kushinga Epworth Residents Trust co-ordinator John Mabwe told NewsDay that the regularisation exercise was mired in corruption.
Epworth Residents Development Association secretary Peter Nyapetwa said the ruling ZANU PF party was using the issues of title deeds to gain political mileage ahead of the 2023 general elections. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005001/government-backtracks-on-title-deeds">NewsDay</a>

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