SEVEN police officers in Gweru were arrested for allegedly
extorting cash, fuel and opaque beer from bottle store and shop operators who
had allegedly violated lockdown regulations in and around Gweru.
The accused persons, who are all stationed at Gweru Rural
Police Station, allegedly solicited and accepted bribes from nine shop and
bottle store operators between April 25 and May 1.
They allegedly shared the loot.
Constables Joyful Magumise (35), Mugwagwa Magumise (42),
Goodhope Chitimbe (31), David Mandimutsira, Bruce Chikwanda, Freddy Mahupere
(all 35), Tonderai Gomana (39) were arrested on Monday following a tip-off.
They appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Mr
Tayengwa Sangster yesterday facing bribery charges.
They were remanded out of custody to June 18 on $3 000 bail
each. Mr Sangster ordered them to reside at their given addresses
and not to interfere with State witnesses.
The magistrate said he was worried that the police officers
were still reporting for duty when they were facing a criminal matter.
“Police officers working in the jurisdiction where
complainants are doing business and continue to be, puts some doubts in terms
of justice delivery in the witnesses’ eyes. Even if they see them patrolling,
it leaves questions on the intention of the employer and I’m not sure what is
happening in terms of their suspension,” he said.
Prosecutor Ms Margret Mukucha told the court that police
investigations were still underway.
“Police investigations are underway and we hope by the next
remand date they will be complete,” she said.
It is the State case that on April 25, the accused persons
hatched a plan to swindle Khumbulani Ngwenya at his shop at Shamrock Mine,
Lower Gweru.
They allegedly drove to the mine and approached Mr Tawanda
Ngwenya, the younger brother to Khumbulani whom they found operating without a
liquor licence.
The accused persons, the court heard, allegedly took 16
cases of Chibuku Super and four cases of spirits. Tawanda advised his brother
that the police officers were in the shop.
The court heard that Khumbulani approached Cst Mugwagwa
Magumise who demanded that he pays some money in order for them to return the
beer they had confiscated.
The complainant succumbed to the threat and allegedly gave
them $1 000 cash before they returned the cases of Chibuku Super and spirits.
Cst Mugwagwa Magumise further told Mr Ngwenya that they had
used Government fuel to raid his shop and asked him to replace it or else they
were going to confiscate 200 litres of diesel he was keeping in his shop.
Mr Ngwenya allegedly gave them a further $200 and 20 litres
of diesel before they left.
Using the same modus operandi, the seven police officers on
April 28 proceeded to Kitchenburg Farm, in the Matobo area of Gweru, where they
allegedly approached Mrs Alice Chokora who operates a shop and liquor store.
Fearing that she was found illegally selling beer, Chokora
bribed them with $1 000 cash.
On May 1, around 2pm, the accused persons allegedly
proceeded to Ranch Farm in Lower Gweru where they approached Mr Dumoluhle
Ngwenya and threatened to arrest him and confiscate his beer and that of other
shop operators for allegedly selling alcohol during the lockdown period.
They allegedly ordered him to collect $150 cash from seven
operators totalling $1 050 before they went away.
Police working on a tip-off, arrested the rogue police
officers.
In April, 13 police officers in Bulawayo were arrested for
allegedly soliciting and accepting a US$10 bribe from a commuter omnibus crew,
which had allegedly violated lockdown regulations following the interception of
their vehicle in the central business district.
The accused persons, stationed at Bulawayo Central Police
Station, were arrested by a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) team
after an unidentified whistle-blower captured them on video while they were
allegedly receiving the bribe before posting it on social media where it
circulated. Chronicle
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