Cop and accomplice arrested for kombi protection r...

Cop and accomplice arrested for kombi protection racket

Michael Mashiri

A police officer and his accomplice have been taken to court for taking bribes from kombis.

Kelvin Nyabanga, 38, of house number 1888 Muguta Extension Epworth, and Leanmore Mutaurwa, 38, Eastview, appeared before magistrate Donald Ndirowei at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with extortion.

Mutaurwa is a serving member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

The State,, through Anesu Chirenje, alleges that on January 28, 2024, there was information that police officers stationed at ZRP Mabvuku traffic who conduct blitzes and roadblocks along Chiremba Road had formed an unholy alliance with Nyabanga in order to extort money from commuter omnibus operators who ply the City- Epworth route.

The scheme was planned in a manner, which allowed commuter omnibuses plying the route to pass through the roadblock without being stopped after payment of US$5 per day or US$30 per week for each vehicle.

It is alleged that Nyabanga was strategically placed at Chance Shopping Centre, Hatfield, Harare with a responsibility of receiving the money from drivers of the omnibuses between 0700 hours and 1000 hours.

After collecting the bribe, Nyabanga would list all defying commuter omnibuses and sent the list to the police officers.

The State alleges that the police would then target the non- complying omnibuses for arrest and vehicle impoundment.

It is against this background that the informant who owns commuter omnibuses wanted his two vehicles to ply the City- Epworth route.

He was then informed about the unlawful requirements which they accused persons were demanding.

It is alleged that on January 28, 2024, informant approached Nyabanga who told him that he was supposed to pay US$30 per vehicle per week to avoid arrest and impoundment of his vehicles.

This did not go down well with the informant who is a law-abiding citizen who then made a report to the police.

On January 30, 2024, a trap was set, resulting in the arrest and recovery of the trap money from Nyabanga, who then implicated Mutaurwa through WhatsApp communications between the two.

The two were ordered to deposit US$100 each and will appear in court on March 6, for their routine remand.