COPS SHOULD EXPLAIN ZAVALE’S DEATH - CORONER

MBABANE - The police officers who are alleged to have caused the death of Luciano Zavale should explain in full the circumstances leading to the death of the Mozambican.

This is according to the coroner, Nondumiso Simelane, in the inquest into circumstances leading to Zavale’s death. In her report she said there was no latitude for the police to interrogate or put questions to the Mozambican because he was already under arrest and in their custody. She said the nature of questions asked by the police under the circumstance should have been such that he was not caused to implicate himself when giving his responses. The implicated officers are Detective Constable Nhlanhla Nkambule and Detective Constable Ndumiso Myeni and the coroner stated that they should be caused to give explanation in administrative proceedings to be instituted by the national commissioner of police. The officers’ explanation, according to Simelane should include the reason for the need to interrogate Zavale in the circumstances. Zavale died on June 12, 2015 and at the time he was being interrogated by Nkambule and Myeni for purchasing a stolen ASUS tablet from one Sifiso Ndzimandze, who had stolen the gadget from an American woman, Taroi Hopkins, who was in the country courtesy of Peace Corps.

Travelling

The theft occurred at the Manzini Bus Rank on June 12, 2015 while Hopkins was in a kombi and she was travelling to Simunye. Ndzimandze sold the gadget to Zavale. When the police, led by Ndzimandze, arrived at the Enterprise Building where Zavale operated a barber shop, the Mozambican voluntarily handed over the tablet. Together with Ndzimandze, the Mozambican was taken to the police station by the investigating officers. During interrogation, Zavale, according to Nkambule and Myeni, who both refused to give evidence before the coroner, complained of severe heat and he collapsed. He was certified dead on arrival at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital. His death caused uproar among the Mozambican community in the country and members of the public who questioned the interrogation methods employed by the police.

The coroner wondered what Zavale was being interrogated for since the person who stole the tablet had been arrested, the tablet itself recovered and he (Zavale) was also arrested in connection with receiving stolen property. Simelane said the detectives committed an irregularity in the circumstances. Simelane further posed the question to Myeni and Nkambule’s superior, Sergeant Edward Dlamini, who was the desk officer, if he did not find it puzzling that Zavale was interrogated despite the recovery of the gadget and the arrest of Ndzimandze who had stolen it and Zavale’s arrest for purchasing it knowing that it was stolen. The sergeant said he was not puzzled by such in that if a suspect had been found with stolen property ‘you cannot just ignore other offences that might have been committed by the same person.’

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