News / National
4 traffic police officers in court for bribery
2 hrs ago |
47 Views
Four police officers who were manning a roadblock along the Bulawayo-Harare Highway have appeared in court facing bribery and criminal abuse of duty charges after allegedly being found with US$237 and P110 that they failed to account for.
Moses Chisandawe (47), Nomson Rwaendepi (44), Anesu Bruce Chikasha (36) and Conscience Chihata (35) appeared before Bulawayo senior regional magistrate Mark Dzira.
They are charged with bribery under Section 45 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
The four, represented by Kholwani Ngwenya of T.J. Mabhikwa and Partners, were remanded in custody to November 2, 2026. Their lawyer has applied for bail at the Bulawayo High Court.
Prosecutor Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that the alleged offences occurred on October 14 at around 12.20pm, when the officers were manning a roadblock at the 397-kilometre peg along the highway.
The court heard that a team from the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit Headquarters arrived at the roadblock in a Ford Raptor, registration number AEK 3966. The team comprised Chief Inspector Mutemaringa, Inspector Kufankomwe, Sergeant Chikono, Sergeant Madanhire and Constable Tapedzisa.
According to the State, the officers observed one of the accused holding cash. A search allegedly revealed that he was carrying US$15 and 110 Botswana pula, which he could not satisfactorily explain.
A subsequent search of the surrounding area reportedly led to the recovery of another US$222 from a satchel hidden inside a nearby metal cabin.
Mhlanga said the accused failed to explain why the money had been kept at the roadblock, prompting their arrest and transfer to ZRP Mbembesi.
Further investigations allegedly established that the recovered money had not been recorded or receipted in the officers' official books.
The State also recovered the ZRP Mbembesi Traffic Site Declaration Book, Occurrence Book and Deployment Register, which are expected to be produced as exhibits in court.
Prosecutors allege that the officers acted contrary to their duties as public officials by receiving money from motorists without properly recording or accounting for it.
The four officers remain in custody pending their next court appearance, while the bail application is before the High Court.
Moses Chisandawe (47), Nomson Rwaendepi (44), Anesu Bruce Chikasha (36) and Conscience Chihata (35) appeared before Bulawayo senior regional magistrate Mark Dzira.
They are charged with bribery under Section 45 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
The four, represented by Kholwani Ngwenya of T.J. Mabhikwa and Partners, were remanded in custody to November 2, 2026. Their lawyer has applied for bail at the Bulawayo High Court.
Prosecutor Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that the alleged offences occurred on October 14 at around 12.20pm, when the officers were manning a roadblock at the 397-kilometre peg along the highway.
The court heard that a team from the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit Headquarters arrived at the roadblock in a Ford Raptor, registration number AEK 3966. The team comprised Chief Inspector Mutemaringa, Inspector Kufankomwe, Sergeant Chikono, Sergeant Madanhire and Constable Tapedzisa.
According to the State, the officers observed one of the accused holding cash. A search allegedly revealed that he was carrying US$15 and 110 Botswana pula, which he could not satisfactorily explain.
A subsequent search of the surrounding area reportedly led to the recovery of another US$222 from a satchel hidden inside a nearby metal cabin.
Mhlanga said the accused failed to explain why the money had been kept at the roadblock, prompting their arrest and transfer to ZRP Mbembesi.
Further investigations allegedly established that the recovered money had not been recorded or receipted in the officers' official books.
The State also recovered the ZRP Mbembesi Traffic Site Declaration Book, Occurrence Book and Deployment Register, which are expected to be produced as exhibits in court.
Prosecutors allege that the officers acted contrary to their duties as public officials by receiving money from motorists without properly recording or accounting for it.
The four officers remain in custody pending their next court appearance, while the bail application is before the High Court.
Source - The Chronicle
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
