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Cops arrested for demanding bribe from Pakistan national
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Four Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers have appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court accused of demanding bribes from a Pakistani national they allegedly arrested for disorderly conduct along Samora Machel Avenue.
The officers - Kudakwashe Zhira (40), Praise Machado (32), Deborah Tumba (37), and Sithulisiwe Manyakaidze (35) - were charged with criminal abuse of office and theft when they appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.
They were each granted US$100 bail, and their case was remanded to November 5, 2025.
According to court papers, the complainant, Akbar Rana Muhammad, a Pakistani national, was at a Fitment Centre along Samora Machel Avenue on August 30, 2025, fixing a punctured tyre when the officers allegedly confronted him and his friend, Tatenda Munyanyi.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi told the court that the officers blocked Muhammad's vehicle using unregistered cars and threw an empty bottle at it, damaging the vehicle. In self-defence, Muhammad reportedly produced an electric shocker, which one of the officers seized before arresting and handcuffing him.
It is alleged that during the arrest, one of the officers confiscated Muhammad's iPhone 16 Pro Max and US$200 before demanding a US$3,000 bribe for his release. When Muhammad failed to raise the money, he allegedly offered to collect it from home but managed to escape to a neighbour's residence instead.
The court heard that the officers later detained Muhammad at ZRP Rhodesville, where they pressured him into paying a US$2,000 bribe to reduce his charges. He allegedly handed the cash to Zhira and was released after paying an official US$30 fine. However, his phone was never returned.
Muhammad later reported the incident to the Police Internal Investigations Department on October 3, 2025, leading to the arrest of the four officers the following day.
The accused are stationed across various police units, including ZRP Rhodesville and ZRP Highlands, serving in departments such as Crime, Police Intelligence, and Public Relations.
The officers - Kudakwashe Zhira (40), Praise Machado (32), Deborah Tumba (37), and Sithulisiwe Manyakaidze (35) - were charged with criminal abuse of office and theft when they appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.
They were each granted US$100 bail, and their case was remanded to November 5, 2025.
According to court papers, the complainant, Akbar Rana Muhammad, a Pakistani national, was at a Fitment Centre along Samora Machel Avenue on August 30, 2025, fixing a punctured tyre when the officers allegedly confronted him and his friend, Tatenda Munyanyi.
It is alleged that during the arrest, one of the officers confiscated Muhammad's iPhone 16 Pro Max and US$200 before demanding a US$3,000 bribe for his release. When Muhammad failed to raise the money, he allegedly offered to collect it from home but managed to escape to a neighbour's residence instead.
The court heard that the officers later detained Muhammad at ZRP Rhodesville, where they pressured him into paying a US$2,000 bribe to reduce his charges. He allegedly handed the cash to Zhira and was released after paying an official US$30 fine. However, his phone was never returned.
Muhammad later reported the incident to the Police Internal Investigations Department on October 3, 2025, leading to the arrest of the four officers the following day.
The accused are stationed across various police units, including ZRP Rhodesville and ZRP Highlands, serving in departments such as Crime, Police Intelligence, and Public Relations.
Source - online
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