Pair nabbed for masquerading as police officers

Zim Now Writer

A 48-year-old woman from Ilanda and a 40-year-old man from Barham Green in Bulawayo have been arrested by police for masquerading as police officers.

The pair of Samantha Dube and Mpikelelo Ncube were arrested on Tuesday, after trying to fleece a 54-year-old woman of an undisclosed amount of money.

The pair had identified themselves as police office officers.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the inciden.

“On 7 March at around 4 PM Dube and Ncube who were clad in civilian clothes were given a lift by a female adult aged 54 who resides in Riverside. The complainant was driving a silver-grey Toyota Sienta from Ascot, headed towards the CBD. Upon reaching Tredgold, Dube, and Ncube told the driver that she was under arrest for pirating, before producing a defaced Zimbabwe Republic Police identity card belonging to one sergeant,” said Inspector Ncube.

The driver then asked to pick up her child from school, and she met other police officers from the cycle patrol unit and narrated her story to them.

“She narrated her issue to some of the members of the cycle patrol unit, who then interrogated Dube and Ncube. It was then discovered that they were impersonating police officers and were immediately arrested,” said Inspector Ncube.

Insp Ncube expressed concern at the growing trend where some members of the public were tarnishing the image of the police, creating animosity when they try to extort money from motorists and other citizens, purporting to be police officers on duty.

“We warn members of the public that such acts lead to prosecution as the long arm of the law will always catch up with them,” said Inspector Ncube.