Kadoma gold dealer shot by top cop

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By Staff Reporter

A GOLD dealer was fighting for his life at Parirenyatwa Hospital Saturday after he was shot under unclear circumstances by Kadoma's top cop.

The family of the man, Saul Marata, 24, has lodged a police complaint, alleging that he was shot by Kadoma Central Police's Chief Superintendent Kachere on Thursday noon in an unprovoked attack.

"He has a licence to deal in gold, and works for a registered dealer. He had nothing to be scared of," a family spokesman Ernest Jackson told New Zimbabwe.com.

According to Jackson, Marata was confronted by Sup Kachere around noon on Thursday and accused of illegal gold dealing.

"Saul told the officer, who had not identified himself at this stage, that they should go to see his employer who was at the Ranch Motel at the time. On their way there, the officer ordered him out of the car and pressed a pistol next to his tummy," Jackson said.

"Saul was worried at this stage because he was carrying $23 million in cash and gold. He asked the officer to produce his identity, and it was at this stage that he was shot. The bullet went in on the left side and out the right.

"He was asked to surrender gold and money while in pain. Sup Kachere then called for back-up, and handcuffed Saul who was writhing in agony on the tarmac. There was no ambulence at Kadoma Hospital and his brother, Andrew, called Mars air ambulence from Kwekwe which took him to Harare. He was operated on and his intestines were found to have been snapped by the bullet.

"He is an innocent man, and the family has hired the services of a lawyer to seek justice for Saul. A report has also been lodged with the police and the family hopes they will investigate and prosecute Kachere," said Jackson.

Police in Kadoma declined to comment, referring questions to national pokesman Wayne Bvudzijena, whose mobile phone was switched off.
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