Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
LOVEWORTHY Nyamungunda (30), who purports to be an agent of the Southern Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Organisation (SARACO), has been arrested for posing as a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) official.
The arrest comes shortly after Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe denied knowledge of SARACO’s operations in the country.
Nyamungunda appeared in court before magistrate Ms Annie Ndiraya on Friday, and was remanded in custody to yesterday, when his trial was expected to commence.
Following the reported arrest of nine police officers in Mutare on April 8 by the organisation’s corruption prevention intelligence unit, Minister Kazembe told The Manica Post: “I am unfamiliar with this organisation. Only the police have the constitutional authority to make arrests. While the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) also has the power to arrest, they do so through police officers within their system. Unless it is affiliated with ZACC, I am unaware of this organisation, and the Commissioner General is similarly uninformed.”
Prosecutor Mrs Tafadzwa Zulu said on May 6, Nyamungunda’s Toyota Wish was clamped by a team from Mutare Municipal Police, led by Sergeant Moven Makaenda, for a parking infringement.
Nyamungunda allegedly approached the municipal police team, introduced himself as a ZACC official, and presented a defaced SARACO identity card, demanding the release of his vehicle.
Mrs Zulu said the municipal police team remained resolute, impounding Nyamangunda’s vehicle before conveying it to the Mutare City Council premises.
Subsequently, Nyamangunda approached the Mutare City Council Police Inspector Enia Gopito, reiterating his claim to be a member of ZACC and asserting that he was on Government duty.
To substantiate his claim, Nyamangunda allegedly produced an identity card labelled Southern Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Organization, resulting in the release of his vehicle.
Mrs Zulu said on June 12, Nyamangunda’s vehicle was clamped again, and the municipal police issued a US$25 ticket for failure to display a valid disc.
Nyamangunda allegedly proceeded to the Mutare City Council Municipal Police department, where he approached Inspector Gopito, seeking the release of his vehicle again.
Once again, Nyamangunda allegedly introduced himself as a ZACC member and produced his SARACO identity card.
Mrs Zulu said Inspector Gopito promptly reported the matter to Principal Security Officer Maxwell Makaruse, who then notified ZACC, resulting in Nyamangunda’s arrest.
When contacted for comment on SARACO’s legal mandate and operations in Zimbabwe, its chairperson, Mr Paddington Kadzungura, said: “We are a genuine anti-corruption organisation recognised by the Government. If the police genuinely believed we were bogus, they would not have opened a docket,” he said, then referring to the recent arrest of eight police officers by a SARACO official. We have handled numerous cases where SARACO details have testified in court, including one case in Warren Park, where we collaborated with ZACC.”
