Zimbabwean fitness trainer Tendai Humbasha Maduwa, popularly known as Sensei Tendai, has reportedly been arrested following a confrontation with two Tendy Three Investments (TTI) parking marshals in Bulawayo city centre.

Maduwa, who is based in Los Angeles, California, went viral on social media after footage emerged showing him allegedly grabbing and slapping two TTI parking officers during a heated dispute over a parking clamp.

The incident, which happened on Friday, has sparked widespread debate online over the conduct of parking marshals and the treatment of motorists in Bulawayo.

In a statement responding to the controversy, Maduwa said his vehicle had been clamped while he was still manoeuvring into a parking bay.

According to Maduwa, he was driving along 5th Street near the NRZ building when he indicated that he intended to enter a parking space. He said another vehicle was reversing from the space he wanted to occupy when a TTI officer knocked on his window and told him his car had been clamped.

Maduwa said he stopped the vehicle, got out and questioned the officers over the clamp, arguing that the car was still in motion and had not yet been parked.

He alleged that the officers told him he was obstructing traffic and demanded payment to remove the clamp.

Maduwa questioned the conduct of the parking marshals, saying clamping a moving vehicle could have resulted in an accident.

He said three TTI supervisors later intervened, apologised and assured him that the matter would be addressed internally.

According to Maduwa, he subsequently held discussions with the supervisors and urged the company to improve the training of its parking staff and avoid what he described as the mistreatment of members of the public.

He also offered to provide free training sessions to help improve the marshals’ conduct and professionalism.

Maduwa said the matter was eventually resolved amicably and that he would have considered legal action against TTI had the company failed to address his concerns.

The reported arrest has added a new twist to the incident, although details surrounding the charges and circumstances of the arrest were not immediately clear.