Police at the Plumtree Border Post have complained about corrupt members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) whose alleged activities — including smuggling and impersonating police — have become a thorn in the flesh for travellers and law enforcers. A police report dated March 28, 2012, a copy of which is in NewsDay’s possession, exposes the shady CIO deals which the police fear have tainted the President’s Office.
“The President’s Office support staff normally deploy themselves at the border where they would engage in corrupt activities. They sometimes masquerade as police officers and search travellers at the border. The issue needs to be addressed as this tarnishes the image of their office,” reads part of the police report titled: Interception Of Goods Intended To Be Smuggled By Members Of The President’s Office.
According to the report, two CIO agents — Charity Mavula and Angella Moyo — are the latest culprits caught while attempting to smuggle goods from Botswana.
“The two, who are stationed at the President’s Office at Plumtree, were Charity Mavula, passport number BN 410310 of house number 704 Madubes, Plumtree, who had 2 speakers, 2 colour televisions, 2 satellite dishes, 1 solar panel, 2 radios and 2 DVD players, all valued at BWP3 190,00, and Angela Moyo, passport number BN 425968 of house number 2241/40 DA’s Compound, Plumtree, who had smuggled two by 21-inch colour television sets, 1 solar inverter, 2 speakers, 2 radios, 2 satellite dish sets and 2 DVD players, all valued at BWP2 450,00,” reads the report.
The two were arrested by constables Nyahwa, Stinta and Chibvuri, all based at Plumtree Border Post.
“The matter was handed to the Member-in-Charge Plumtree Border Post number 043090L A/I (Assistant Inspector) Mutanga, who then referred the matter to the Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) supervisor Stingily Murema, who explained to the two that they had extra goods and that qualified them to pay duty,” reads the report.
Mavula and Moyo reportedly admitted to committing the offence and were made to pay duty for the goods.
In its final comment, the report states: “The two officers had the intention to smuggle the goods as they had not declared their goods to Zimra and considering that they had already passed the Zimra searching bay.”
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Acting police spokesperson for Matabeleland South Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi said he was yet to be furnished with the report.
“I have not yet received a report on the issue. We get the reports from our district offices and I am yet to receive a report on the case.”
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena yesterday said he was attending meetings and could, therefore, not comment.
Cases of law enforcement agents taking the law into their own hands have been on the increase in Zimbabwe.
Early this month, a group of rowdy soldiers allegedly stormed a police base in Mutare and assaulted police officers after one of the soldiers had been arrested over allegations of kidnapping two civilians.
A few days later, police in Shamva unleashed mayhem at Canterbury Mine where they allegedly murdered one civilian and injured many more after their officer-in-charge’s wife’s purse had reportedly been stolen at the mine.
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri this week described the Shamva killer cops as “overzealous hooligans”.
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