HARARE – Four Harare men Tuesday appeared in court facing attempted murder on a senior police detective whom they trailed and later viciously attacked before disarming him of a police pistol.

Police CID Chief Inspector Alexander Jachi is lucky to be alive after he got stabbed during the attack.

The suspects are Munyaradzi Chatonzwa, 43, Sydney Rande, 32, Mark Tatenda Chingombe, 32, and Simbarashe Steven Ota, 34.

The four are now being charged with attempted murder, theft of a firearm and malicious damage to property.

They all appeared before Harare Magistrate Donald Ndirowei who remanded them in custody for bail application.

According to court papers, the incident occurred on September 30.

Jachi, a CID Chief Inspector, was driving from Highfields to Chitungwiza when he noticed that he was being followed.

When he passed Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Waterfalls, he slowed down intending to take a right turn but the suspects, who were in two different cars, blocked his way.

Jachi then drove towards the Harare City Centre with the two cars still trailing close behind him.

“Sensing danger, the complainant then drove to Jongwe Corner, Waterfalls, Harare for safety with the suspects in hot pursuit.

“Upon arrival at Jongwe Corner, Hatfield, Harare and as soon as the complainant parked his motor vehicle, Chatonzwa and one other accomplice disembarked from their VW Polo and charged towards the complainant.

“The complainant then got out of his motor vehicle and Chatonzwa threatened him with unspecified action while charging towards him.

“Jachi fired one warning shot into the air from a 9mm Police service Taurus pistol serial number ZRP 023 to scare away the accused persons, but Chatonzwa was not deterred, and he advanced further towards the complainant.

“The complainant then shot Chatinzwa on his left leg to disable him, but he became more violent.”

It is said Chatonzwa then struck Jachi once on the head with a blunt object before he fell down.

His accomplices allegedly joined in and stabbed Jachi on the head several times leaving him bleeding profusely.

The suspects also struck Jachi on his legs and hands several times with an unknown object.

Bystanders tried to restrain the suspects from further committing the act to no avail.

Court further heard that when the four were done attacking him, they searched his pockets and took his wallet which had US$140 and his identification cards.

The suspects also allegedly stole the police pistol, Jachi’s car tyres before speeding off.