CID Officer Nabbed in Firearm Certificate Bribery ...

CID Officer Nabbed in Firearm Certificate Bribery Scam

Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent

A man who allegedly attempted to defraud a complainant during the processing of a firearm certificate has been arraigned before the courts.

Elvis Mupanga, 39, appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with criminal abuse of office.

The State alleges that in December 2024, the complainant purchased a .22 rifle, serial number LA-55429-G, from Zimbabwe Defense Industries and was issued a receipt.

He then went to Chatsworth, where he obtained a Firearm Certificate application form and was referred to CID Headquarters for processing.

The court heard that on February 27, the complainant went to CID Headquarters with the application form and the receipt issued upon purchasing the rifle.

Upon arrival, he proceeded to the Central Firearm Registry office, where he was attended to by Mupanga, who was manning the reception.

Mupanga informed him that he needed to pay US$100 for Joint Operation Command, but since the complainant only had US$50, Mupanga took the amount.

The complainant was dismissed on the pretext that Mupanga would process the paperwork and later update him on the progress.

On March 26, Mupanga contacted the complainant, informing him that his application had been approved by the Joint Operation Command.

He further stated that the complainant needed to bring US$250 for receipting, US$50 for Joint Operation Command, and an additional US$50 for Mupanga as a token of appreciation.

On March 31, the complainant made a report to the police.

A trap was set on the same day, leading to Mupanga’s arrest at Roadport Bus Terminus, where the trap money—US$110—was recovered.

He was granted bail set at US$100.