Fake Detectives Arrested Over Kidnapping Attempt

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

Two individuals who posed as police detectives have appeared in court facing kidnapping charges.

Paddington Meki, 44, of Shamva and Sithembile Mufari, 36, of Kuwadzana 1 were brought before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts for allegedly attempting to abduct Simbarashe Chigora on September 22, 2024.

According to the State, the accused, along with two accomplices still at large, were driving a green Volvo with registration number ACG 3461 when they confronted Chigora and his wife, Esnath Nyahuma, along Briddon Road, Waterfalls, Harare. The couple was on their way to church at the time.

The accused reportedly exited their car, approached Chigora, and claimed to be detectives from CID Homicide Harare. When Chigora asked for police identification, they failed to produce any.

Mufari allegedly brandished a firearm, pointing it at Chigora while attempting to drag him into their car. Chigora resisted, and his wife began recording the confrontation on her phone, capturing both the incident and the car’s registration number.

Realising they were being filmed, the accused abandoned their attempt, jumped into their car, and fled the scene.

The matter was reported to ZRP Waterfalls. Investigations revealed that Meki was already in custody at Harare Central Remand Prison on unrelated robbery charges. During questioning, he implicated Mufari and two others, leading to Mufari's arrest.

The other two accomplices remain at large.