Center News Hub
MASVINGO — A senior police officer stationed at Masvingo Central Police Headquarters lost part of his finger during a violent altercation with a local rank marshal at the Pick N Pay pirate taxi bay recently, according to police records.
Assistant Inspector Rangarirai Hove (44) was admitted to Masvingo Provincial Hospital for several days after his forefinger was nearly severed when it was bitten by tout Amos Gozho (50) during the confrontation.
According to a police charge sheet gleaned by the Center News Hub under reference number RRB 6598995, the incident occurred when Assistant Inspector Hove was driving his private vehicle and attempted to park at Pick N Pay to drop off a passenger.
All parking bays were occupied upon arrival.
Hove pulled off the road, waiting for a reversing vehicle to vacate a space. He then sounded his vehicle horn.
Gozho, a rank marshal, approached and asked the officer whether he knew what sounding a horn meant.
Asst Inspector Hove replied that the horn is used to alert passengers.
The response angered the rank marshal, who then struck the police officer twice on the neck, accusing him of disrupting the loading of “mushikashika” (pirate taxi) vehicles.
Asst Inspector Hove exited his vehicle, identified himself as a police officer, and informed Gozho that he was under arrest for assault and touting.
The rank marshal became violent, pushing and shoving the inspector.
The senior cop Hove then called for assistance from a uniformed colleague.
As the two officers attempted to handcuff Gozho, he grabbed Hove’s right hand and bit down on his forefinger.
Despite the injury, the rank marshal was eventually subdued and arrested. He was taken to Masvingo Central Police Station.
