Cop jailed for possessing unregistered firearm

A Harare based policeman  has been jailed for nine months for possessing a firearm without a licence.

Kuziva Murinda's friends Tatenda Goronga and Lionel Munyaradzi Sambo, who are also police officers, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.

The pair will appear in court today for bail application.

Murinda was sentenced to 15 months in prison but six were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

According to the Herald, Prosecutor Francesca Mukumbiri told the court that Goronga and Sambo were stationed at Morris Depot Equitation and Harare Central Police Station, respectively.

The court heard that in March this year Sambo was approached by his friend Stanley Chifeya who is at large.

Chifeya was selling a firearm and the trio agreed to buy it.

The trio failed to raise money and gave Chifeya a plasma television set in exchange for the firearm.

Goronga kept the firearm until May when he handed it to Muringa.

On June 2 Muringa approached Mabasa Mutunga intending to borrow money.

He offered to return the money with interest and surrendered the firearm as surety.

They arranged to meet at Unit H Shopping Centre and sat in Mutunga's car.

Muringa then produced the firearm a Star pistol serial number R01008 and showed it to Mutunga who then took the firearm and mobilised his friends to arrest Muringa.

They took Muringa to Chitungwiza Police Station where he implicated Goronga and Sambo.