By A Correspondent- Two Rusape-based police officers were arrested for stealing a commuter omnibus, while a suspended police detective allegedly teamed up with two accomplices for an extortion spree in Mutare and surrounding areas.

The Rusape pair has since appeared in court, while investigations are in progress in the matter involving the Mutare CID detective and his accomplices.

It is alleged that the two Rusape cops stole an impounded kombi that was parked at Rusape Central Police Station before releasing it to its owner who had bribed them to carry out the mission.

Last week, Rusape Central Police station’s Lawrence Muzanda and Golden Cheneka appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mr Gift Manyika, facing one count of criminal abuse of office.

They were represented by Mr Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates who successfully applied for $5 000 bail for each of them after the State had opposed it.

Public prosecutor, Mr Tawanda Munjanja said the policemen released a Toyota Hiace belonging to Percivical Jongwe after receiving a US$40 bribe.

“On August 13, Jongwe was arrested for carrying passengers in contravention of Section 4 (2) of Statutory Instrument 83/2020. His Toyota Hiace kombi was impounded. Jongwe later approached one Tafadzwa to facilitate the release of the vehicle.

“Tafadzwa, who is still at large, approached Muzanda and Cheneka as they were manning ZRP Rusape Central’s main gate. The three connived to release the vehicle for a fee. At around 2am, Muzanda called Jongwe and instructed him to come and collect his vehicle.

“Accused persons demanded a payment of US$60 to facilitate the release of the motor vehicle, but Jongwe told them that he only had US$40. The accused persons accepted the money on condition that he would pay the balance the following day.

“The US$40 was given to Tafadzwa, who later handed it over to the accused persons. Muzanda drove the motor vehicle out of the police station before handing it over to Jongwe at Engen Service Station in Rusape.

“On the same day around 6am, Cheneka called Jongwe and advised him to immediately leave Rusape as it had been discovered that the vehicle had been stolen,” said Mr Munjanja.

As Jongwe fled, alert police officers in Marondera intercepted him at a roadblock. The vehicle was impounded and handed over to CID Rusape, where it is being held as an exhibit.

The duo is expected back in court on September 4. In the Mutare case, the three suspects are alleged to have been targeting illegal fuel dealers whom they would threaten with arrest before demanding bribes for their freedom.

Deputy Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxton Chananda could not disclose the name of the implicated detective as investigations are still in progress.

He, however, confirmed the arrest of Thomas Chanaka (33) and Wallace Muranganwa (29). They are facing charges of fraud, theft and impersonating police officers.

Assistant Inspector Chananda said police officials stationed at Dangamvura Police Station received a report that the two suspects were disguising themselves as cops and terrorising residents.

A team led by Sergeant Machona, as well as Constables Chitukula, Ndonda, Urayayi and Moyo made a follow-up. Informers were planted in and around Dangamvura to trace the whereabouts of the accused persons.

On June 29, one of the complainants, Mr John Mukonowenhata from Sakubva in Mutare, parked his truck along Jeff Road as he was fixing his tent.

The two accused persons blocked his way with their private vehicle and identified themselves as police officers. One of the suspects produced a police identity card, Number 069218I, which belongs to one Constable Phiri.

The duo then searched Mr Mukonowenhata’s vehicle and found 100 litres of diesel. They told him that he was under arrest for dealing in petroleum substances without proper documentation.

They demanded US$130 and Mr Mukonowenhata handed it over to them.

However, Mr Mukonowenhata later learnt that the two were bogus cops and filed a police report at the ZRP Dangamvura station.

Weeks later, the suspects approached Mr Renias Chakauya of Federation, Dangamvura, at his workplace at Tsvingwe, Redwing Mine.

They identified themselves as police officers and one of them produced the aforementioned identity card. They told Mr Chakauya that he was under arrest for dealing in petroleum substances without a permit.

They demanded US$30 from Mr Chakauya, before going on to disappear with his US$120 in a botched fuel deal a few days later.

On August 10, Chanaka was at Beta Shopping Centre in Dangamvura when he borrowed Mr Blessing Munyebvu’s cellphone. He went on to disappear with it.

The following day, police informants alerted the police that the suspects were at Beta Shopping Centre.

The police reacted swiftly and arrested the duo.

In an effort to evade arrest, one of the suspects tried to stab Constable Ndonda with an Okapi knife.

Further investigations have revealed that the suspects committed a series of offences in Sakubva, Penhalonga and Mutare’s Central Business District. Some of these were not reported. The cops also uncovered that one of the suspects is a police detective who is currently on suspension.

The suspects told the cops that Constable Phiri’s police ID, which they were using for their shenanigans, was picked in Sakubva. Constable Phiri is stationed at Mutare Central Police Station.-statemedia