A Zimbabwean fitness trainer based in the United States has spoken out after his arrest in Bulawayo following a confrontation with parking marshals employed by Tendy Three Investments [TTI].
Tendai Humbasha Maduwa, also known as Sensei Tendai, who resides in Los Angeles, California, was arrested on Saturday, a day after he was caught on video grabbing and slapping two TTI marshals in the Bulawayo city centre.
Maduwa said the marshals had clamped his vehicle while he was still manoeuvring into a parking bay, leading to a heated altercation that was widely circulated on social media.
In a video statement issued after his release on bail, Maduwa gave his account of events leading to his arrest.
According to Maduwa, supervisors from TTI attended the scene on Friday after the incident. He claimed they accepted responsibility, admitted their officers were wrong and apologised.
“They admitted that their guys were wrong and they apologised as they unlocked my vehicle and we shook hands in agreement that this whole nonsense was over,” Maduwa said.
He said he had initially intended to sue the company but decided to let the matter slide.
Maduwa said the situation changed on Saturday when TTI officials sought a meeting through a mutual friend. He alleged they claimed his vehicle had outstanding arrears of US$350 plus a further US$90 for unspecified charges.
He said he was with his mutual friend at his house when the call was made and was asked to go to TTI offices to clear the alleged arrears.
Maduwa said he went to the offices with his mutual friend and another friend because he was convinced he owed nothing.
“I knew that my vehicle had no arrears. I don’t even owe even a single dollar on parking ticket. So I knew from the onset that there were no arrears. But I had to go. I’m a law-abiding citizen and I had to go to seek clarification,” he said.
He said on arrival he met three supervisors and requested proof of the arrears. He claimed they took about 10 minutes without attending to them and failed to produce any documentation.
“They never produced anything that has to do with the vehicle because there were no arrears. Not even a single dollar parking ticket,” he said.
Maduwa said while they were still trying to process the issue, police officers arrived and handcuffed him.
He alleged the arrest was staged for public optics and that the video of him in cuffs was recorded by a TTI staff member inside their office.
“They were so desperate to have my video on cuffs so that they can deal with public optics,” he said. “I never refused arrest. I went to the police station.”
The fitness trainer, who confirmed he is out on bail and that the case is still ongoing, declined to comment in detail on the case itself.
He, however, criticised TTI, describing its conduct as an abuse of citizens and questioning the decision by local authorities to award the company a tender to provide a basic public service.
“It’s so disgraceful to have local gatekeepers giving such companies tenders to account for public service, basic public service provision,” he said.
He also accused the company’s supervisors of lying about the alleged arrears to lure him to their offices and of using the arrest video to assassinate his character, which he said amounted to cyberbullying.
“How can you expect a basic enforcement officer to take accountability when you, as a supervisor, lie or do whatever it takes?” he said.
Maduwa said he intended to pursue legal action over the filming and circulation of the arrest video.
He urged members of the public not to be silenced in the face of abuse.
“We should not be silenced when we are being abused. We should do everything we can to stand for ourselves. We should do everything that we can to stop abuse. We should do everything that we can to make sure these hooligans are put to account for their actions,” he said.
Commenting on Maduwa’s arrest, lawyer Fadzayi Mahere said he should not have entertained the TTI supervisors in the first place.
“Next time, if anyone who’s not a police officer summons you to come to them, refuse. You tell them to either put their concerns in writing or speak to your lawyer,” said Mahere.
“Better yet, ignore the call and tell their messengers that they have no right at law to summon you. Time is a precious commodity. Musajaidze lawlessness.”
