Six members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) were on Monday brought to court in Mutare for criminal abuse of duty after they allegedly facilitated the smuggling of hundreds of bales of second-hand clothes from Mozambique.
The six, who are stationed at Cashel Valley Chimanimani police camp, are Cosmas Madzivanzira (39), Shadreck Hapaori (35), Godfrey Mazhonga (28), Timothy Chatira (29), Aphious Zimunhu (30) and Lenin Muvengwa (21).
It is the State’s case that on March 28, the police officers hatched a plan to partner with one Dzingai to facilitate the smuggling of second-hand bales from Mozambique via Cashel Valley to Harare.
Dzingai had reportedly hired a lorry and three commuter omnibuses from Harare to ferry the consignment after getting assurance from the policemen that they would help him in the smuggling for a fee.
They teamed up and went to the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border to get the consignment on the same day, but their luck ran out after alert ZRP members from Marange intercepted them.
The court heard the smugglers had brought in 125 bales as part of the deal.
The police impounded two loaded vehicles which had the bales.
They also impounded two other vehicles waiting to be loaded and escorted them to Cashel Police Station.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
However, the six policemen allegedly became violent and resisted arrest, which led to a scuffle with their colleagues.
They were eventually overpowered and arrested. The six officers were charged under section 174(1) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
They were not asked to plead to the charge and were remanded out of custody to April 16 on $50 bail by magistrate Charles Murowe. Aaron Nyamasoka prosecuted.
