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\u201cStop the Lies!\u201d Constitution Defenders Forum Blasts Police Over Biti Driver Assault Report<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Tinashe Sambiri\u2013 The Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) has strongly rejected a statement by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) regarding an alleged incident at the offices of former Finance Minister and CDF convener Tendai Biti in Harare on Thursday.<\/p>\n
ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi had claimed that police were unaware of any attack on Biti\u2019s driver, stating that Biti and his driver left the premises peacefully before midday.<\/p>\n
Nyathi added that officers present did not witness any assault and that Biti reportedly interacted cordially with a police inspector.<\/p>\n
He suggested that if the assault occurred elsewhere, Biti should lodge a formal report.<\/p>\n
The CDF dismissed this account as \u201cfactually incorrect and misleading.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement issued later Thursday, the group said:
\u201cFor the record, Hon. Tendai Biti left his offices driving himself, as his driver had already been assaulted earlier and taken to the hospital after being attacked by men driving unmarked vehicles.<\/p>\n
The driver and the woman he was with were assaulted well before Hon. Biti exited the premises.\u201d<\/p>\n
The forum also contested the police description of the encounter as cordial.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat brief moment cannot be described as a cordial engagement or discussion, as alleged by the police,\u201d the statement said. \u201cAny exchange that may have occurred earlier was between the individuals driving the unmarked vehicles and others at the scene. The police are fully aware of the identities and conduct of those individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CDF called on the police to take meaningful action instead of issuing statements it said were designed to obscure the facts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the police are serious about upholding the law, they should investigate the alleged assault, identify those responsible, and hold them accountable,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n
The forum reiterated its respect for the national police institution, urging professionalism, impartiality, and adherence to the truth in handling serious incidents.<\/p>\n
\u201cCDF has always maintained respect for the Zimbabwe Republic Police as a national institution tasked with protecting citizens and maintaining law and order. We therefore expect professionalism, impartiality, and commitment to the truth from the police in handling such serious incidents,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n
According to the CDF, Biti\u2019s driver sustained internal injuries during the attack and is currently receiving medical attention, with further examinations planned to assess the full extent of his injuries. \u201cThe truth must be told, and the safety of citizens must never be compromised for political expediency,\u201d the forum said.<\/p>\n
The incident has reignited debates over the role of security forces in politically sensitive cases, with opposition leaders accusing the police of failing to protect citizens from attacks allegedly linked to political intimidation.<\/p>\n
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