4 traffic police officers in court for bribery

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 110 Botswana pula they could not account for.

Moses Chisandawe (47), Nomson Rwaendepi (44), Anesu Bruce Chikasha (36) and Conscience Chihata (35) appeared before Bulawayo senior regional magistrate Mark Dzira yesterday.

They are charged with bribery under Section 45 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and criminal abuse of duty as public officers. They are represented by Kholwani Ngwenya of T.J. Mabhikwa and Partners, who has applied for their bail at the Bulawayo High Court.

The four were remanded in custody to November 2, 2026.

Prosecutor Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that the alleged incident occurred on October 14 at around 12.20pm at a roadblock situated at the 397-kilometre peg along the highway.

The court heard that officers from the Support Unit Headquarters, comprising Chief Inspector Mutemaringa, Inspector Kufankomwe, Sergeant Chikono, Sergeant Madanhire and Constable Tapedzisa, arrived at the roadblock in a Ford Raptor, registration number AEK 3966.

Upon arrival, the team allegedly observed one of the accused holding cash. A search reportedly uncovered US$15 and 110 Botswana pula, which the officer allegedly failed to explain satisfactorily.

A subsequent search of the surrounding area led to the recovery of a further US$222 from a satchel hidden inside a nearby metal cabin, bringing the total amount recovered to US$237 and 110 Botswana pula.

According to the State, the officers failed to explain why they were in possession of the money, prompting their arrest and subsequent escort to ZRP Mbembesi.

Further investigations allegedly established that the recovered cash had not been recorded or receipted in the officers' official books.

The State said the ZRP Mbembesi Traffic Site Declaration Book, Occurrence Book and Deployment Register were also recovered and would be presented as exhibits in court.

Prosecutors allege that the officers acted contrary to their official duties by receiving money from motorists without recording or accounting for it.