BULAWAYO – Zimbabwean businessman Sikhumbuzo Manduna has filed a suit against the Zambia Police Service (ZPS) claiming “abduction” and unlawful detention for eight days.

Manduna, who was arrested at Chirundu boarder post August 23 this year, has also filed for “defamation of character, loss of business and illegal seizure of his vehicle”.

The South African based Andiswa Phakade (Pvt) Ltd owner was accused of driving a stolen motor vehicle, a Ford Ranger Registration no. FPB369X at the time.

He says he was on his way to monitor his trucking business in Zambia but found himself detained without trial in Lusaka until 31 August.

Documents seen by ZimLive indicate that South African Interpol Captain, Pieter De Villiers wrote to ZPS absolving the trucker of the alleged crime on 28 August, but his ordeal continued regardless of the intervention.

The letter reads in part, “The vehicle is not listed as stolen in South Africa. Please find a Border letter from Capitec Bank Limited who is the Title Holder of the vehicle stating that Manduna Sikhumbuzo can utilise the vehicle across the border in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana for the period 9 August 2023 until 4 September 2023.”

The letter was issued and confirmed by Capitec Bank, he says.

Manduna claims Zambian police also demanded a bribe amounting to 18,000 Kwacha (US$855).

He claims that his arrest amounted to “abduction”.

The businessman also says his suffering was premeditated as the police forcibly took him at gunpoint to a different jurisdiction.

“I was unlawfully detained and harassed by the ZPS for reasons that might be malice as I am a Zimbabwean businessman owning a successful trucking business in that country,” he says.

“These guys knew what they were doing; why would they change me to another jurisdiction without even verifying if the car was flagged as stolen!”

His lawyers, Milner and Paul Legal Practitioners, say they were appalled with the service by Zambian police authorities.

“Our efforts to secure his release were met with very unprofessional conduct by the dealing officer and highly demeaned Counsel with conduct of the matter in the presence of so many people in which he was shouting on top of his voice despite the demanded courtesy for Counsel,” writes his lawyers in part.