adminShamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
A Bulawayo man has not been paying rent at a house he lives in in the city, producing a police identification card every time the money was due, a court heard yesterday. Collen Maponga, 25, of Mpopoma suburb picked up a police identification card that he used to refuse paying rentals. Maponga, employed by Clarion Insurance Brokers, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze facing a charge of impersonating a police officer.
He pleaded guilty and Msipa Marondedze fined him $100.
If he fails to pay, Maponga will spend 30 days in jail.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on August 10, Maponga’s landlord, Edward Mahachi approached Western Commonage Police Station seeking help to confirm whether Maponga was a police officer.
He said Maponga moved into Mahachi’s residence on July 1, this year.
“He would refuse to pay rentals and produce a police identification card,” said Mageza.
Mageza said police proceeded to his place of residence and identified themselves.
“Maponga identified himself as Brian Takudzwa Manyika, a police officer based at Guruve police station,” he said.
The court heard that police conducted a body search and found a police identification card belonging to Manyika.
Upon his arrest, Maponga indicated that he was not a policeman and had picked up the identity card.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter