CID officers arrested in US$5 000 bribery sting

Two members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Minerals unit in Mutare have appeared in court facing extortion and bribery charges after they were allegedly caught in a sting operation demanding an additional US$5 000 from a suspect.

The officers, Taona Zhou (37) and Observant Tinashe Marodza (37), were arrested last Friday in Mutare's Central Business District following a dramatic incident in which they reportedly resisted arrest for close to an hour, drawing public attention.

They were apprehended at Blue Bottle Store after allegedly receiving the bribe money and later appeared before Harare magistrate Jesse Kufa on Saturday. The pair was granted bail of US$100 each.

According to the State, the two officers solicited money from a transport operator in exchange for facilitating the release of trucks carrying mineral ore destined for Mozambique.

Prosecutors say the complainant, Tawanda Zimbowa, a player in the transport and logistics sector, had been contracted alongside another driver to ferry mineral ore for a Chinese national. On March 21, the trucks were intercepted in Mutare by CID officers, including Zhou, who confiscated the drivers' passports and vehicle registration books.

The court heard that Zhou allegedly informed the drivers that their consignment carried false declaration papers and instructed them not to proceed until the matter was clarified. Although the documents were later returned, the officers allegedly demanded payment to allow the trucks to continue their journey.

The situation escalated when the complainant reportedly discovered through a clearing agent that US$15 000 had already been paid as a bribe to the accused but had not been shared among other officials as allegedly agreed.

On March 25, Zhou allegedly contacted one of the drivers, Langford Kamanga, demanding a further US$5 000 to facilitate the release of the trucks.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which authorised a trap operation.

On March 26, ZACC officers accompanied the complainant to Mutare, where a meeting was arranged with the accused at a food outlet in the city centre. During the meeting, the officers allegedly confirmed their willingness to receive the money before directing the complainant to follow them to another location.

According to the prosecution, the complainant handed over the marked trap money under surveillance, after which Zhou allegedly placed it inside a vehicle. ZACC officers then moved in and arrested both suspects.

A subsequent search reportedly recovered the marked money from the front seat of the vehicle.

The State argues that the accused acted unlawfully by demanding and receiving a bribe in connection with their official duties.

Zhou and Marodza are facing charges of extortion as defined under Section 134 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, or alternatively bribery under Section 170 of the same Act.

The matter has been remanded to a later date for continuation of trial proceedings.