City Of Harare Breaks Silence After Municipal Officer Slaps Woman In Banking Hall
The City of Harare has apologised after a video showing an off-duty municipal police officer slapping a woman inside a council banking hall in Mbare spread widely on social media. The incident marks the second public apology issued by the local authority within 24 hours following another controversy involving a City Parking marshal.
The council confirmed that disciplinary action would be taken against the officer while police continue investigating the incident.
City Of Harare Explains Mbare Municipal Police Slapping Incident
In a public statement issued on Friday, 24 July 2026, the City of Harare acknowledged the viral footage and said the circulating video did not capture the entire confrontation.
Introducing its explanation, the council said:
“The City of Harare is aware of a video circulating on social media in which an off-duty municipal police officer is seen slapping a woman in the banking hall in Mbare.”
The local authority said the officer had allegedly jumped the queue, leading to an argument.
The statement added:
“We will take action against the municipal police officer. The facts are that the off-duty officer went to the banking hall and jumped the queue, a development which infuriated the woman.”
The council said the woman later submitted a written account of what happened.
It stated:
“According to the woman’s own account, which she gave in writing, she confronted the officer, pushing and shoving him. We have gathered that the woman also bit the officer on the finger, and he had to be treated at the clinic.”
Both Parties Arrested As City Promises Disciplinary Action
According to the City of Harare, the confrontation escalated before the officer slapped the woman.
The statement continued:
“This resulted in an altercation, and the officer slapped the woman. The video being circulated did not show the earlier stages of the confrontation, as they were edited out.”
The council also confirmed that police arrested both individuals.
“They were both arrested by police for public violence and were both released. However, on the part of the City of Harare, we want to assure residents that we will take disciplinary action against the municipal police officer.”
The City of Harare added that the matter remains under police investigation and said further information would be released once investigations are complete.
Second City Of Harare Apology Within 24 Hours
The latest apology comes less than a day after another controversy involving City Parking, a City of Harare subsidiary. That incident drew criticism after a marshal clamped a vehicle that had stopped so a mother could administer oxygen to her sick five-year-old child.
The two incidents have attracted widespread public attention, with many residents responding to the council’s statement on social media while awaiting the outcome of the police investigation and the promised disciplinary process.
The post City Of Harare Apologises After Municipal Cop Slaps Woman At Council Offices appeared first on iHarare News.
