A Zimbabwe National Army serviceman has appeared in court for holding captive two Beitbridge policemen he disarmed, assaulted and threatened with his firearm before bundling them into a donkey-drawn cart.

Brave Maluleke (31) of 1.1 Infantry Battalion allegedly committed the offence on September 12, 2018, but only came to court this year after his employer temporarily shielded him.

He is answering a charge of assaulting peace officers and another of pointing a firearm at constables Tavonga Mbavarira and William Manyanya.

Resident magistrate Langton Mukwengi remanded Maluleke in custody to September 30.

Mukwengi also recommended that Maluleke be examined by two medical doctors.

According to the State, the trio, all in uniform, was on a joint patrol in Chikwarakwara, a rural area near Crooks Corner, where Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique converge, 130km east of Beitbridge town.

Maluleke, walking some 30 meters behind the two police officers, suddenly ordered them to lie on their bellies.

He ordered them to surrender their guns, beat and kicked them before tying their hands at the back.

The accused allegedly later bundled the pair into a donkey-drawn cart and drove them to their base, but no explanation is given on how they were freed.

After a report was made, the ZNA took away Maluleke, who police managed to bring to court on Thursday last week.

Source:Bulawayo24