Police Officer Arrested for Impersonation, Extorti...

Police Officer Arrested for Impersonation, Extortion

Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent

Two men, including a serving police officer, have appeared in court facing charges of impersonation and abuse of office.

Elisha Magwaza ,38, a police constable stationed at ZRP Mbare, and Collen Muzuva ,33, who is unemployed, were granted US$100 bail each by Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo.

The complainant is the State, represented by Terence Chinyamunjiko, a police officer stationed at the Zimbabwe Republic Police General Headquarters’ Internal Investigations Department.

On July 28, around 11:30 a.m., Chinyamunjiko and a team of officers from ZRP PGHQ Internal Investigations—Chief Inspector Gunhe, Chief Inspector Mupangai, Assistant Inspector Mutemaringa, and Assistant Inspector Demba—were conducting surveillance along the Harare-Bulawayo Road.

At Thuli Service Station, the team noticed four men and three women waiting for transport.

While observing, a Toyota Hilux branded with "Econet" and bearing registration number AFN 5372 stopped to pick up passengers. A female passenger entered the front seat while two men climbed into the vehicle’s cab. After a short drive, the female passenger was dropped off.

Suspecting foul play, the officers attempted to follow the vehicle but lost sight of it. Meanwhile, the remaining two men—one later identified as Constable Magwaza—were seen using their mobile phones, seemingly communicating with those in the vehicle.

Moments later, the same Toyota Hilux reappeared, turning from Bishop Gaul Avenue onto Bulawayo Road, and dropped off Magwaza and Muzuva.

The officers intercepted the vehicle at OK Marimba and interviewed the driver, Amos Siyani, who revealed that the two accused had extorted US$150 from him after falsely accusing him of committing a traffic offence.

Siyani stated that the accused initially demanded US$230, but he negotiated the amount down to US$150, which he withdrew from his EcoCash account.

The officers returned to Thuli Service Station and found the suspects back at their alleged "hunting ground."

They parked their vehicle, approached the suspects, and managed to apprehend both Magwaza and Muzuva.