A 33-year-old Karoi man, Caleb Chinodakufa, is recovering in Chinhoyi after a brutal encounter with police dogs left him nursing serious injuries and facing a lengthy wait for medical attention.
Chinodakufa, who suffers from epilepsy and experiences regular seizures, was walking home from Chikangwe high-density suburb where he had collected his evening meal. His mother, Muchaneta Kofi, recounted the harrowing events in a telephone interview from Chinhoyi, where her son is now receiving treatment.
“It was around 7pm when the police, who were hiding in the bushes, called him to stop. The place is well known for night raids by thieves, and Caleb tried to run away before the dogs were set on him. They arrested him and detained him for nearly four hours after the dogs had bitten him,” she explained.
The police, according to Kofi, then took Chinodakufa to his aunt’s house in Chikangwe, where they demanded money for his alleged “offence.” Despite his bleeding wounds from the dog bites, he was denied medical assistance throughout the night.
“He was not taken care of during the night, although he was bleeding from the dog bites. The police officers on duty did not allow him to seek medical attention. He slept at the charge office,” Kofi lamented.
It was only the following morning, after a relative who holds a senior position within the police force intervened with the officer-in-charge, that Chinodakufa was finally taken to Karoi District Hospital, a short distance from the police camp.
“He was dumped at the Karoi District Hospital after spending nearly 14 hours bleeding from the dog wounds,” Kofi stated, adding, “Caleb was their patient, and as uniformed forces, they should have assisted him to get medication on time. He endured several hours at the hospital with my young sister who takes care of him in Karoi. He joined the queue like anyone else besides bleeding from the dog wounds.”
Hospital records confirm Chinodakufa’s injuries, noting dog bite wounds and bleeding on his left leg. He was subsequently prescribed anti-rabies vaccine and Cloxacillin, an antibiotic commonly used to treat skin infections, amongst other medication. Police documents indicate that Chinodakufa was fined US$15 for violating section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, an offence relating to disorderly conduct.
Assistant Inspector Effort Chapoto, the Mashonaland West deputy provincial spokesperson, confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that a Karoi man was mauled by a police dog. The police were on night patrol in the area where robberies are now common. He was stopped but instead of complying with police orders he ran away. He was fined for disorderly conduct,” he said.
