Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
FOUR men who posed as members of the security services have each been sentenced to seven years in prison after kidnapping and assaulting a police officer deployed on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 public hearing duties in Gokwe.
Isheunesu Benjamin Marima (30), Collin Masawi (44), Wonder Gamba (43) and Edwin Chinongwa (32) lured the officer from the event venue before abducting and attacking him.
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) spokesperson Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri said the incident occurred on March 31, 2026, at around 10am in Nembudziya.
“The complainant, a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police who was deployed on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 public hearing duties, was approached by Isheunesu Benjamin Marima, who introduced himself as security personnel,” she said.
Marima then asked to speak to the officer outside the venue under the pretext of discussing issues related to the proceedings.
Once outside, he forcibly bundled the officer into a waiting vehicle occupied by his accomplices, in an act of kidnapping.
The gang drove to a secluded area in Maselukwe, Gokwe North, where they took turns to assault the officer before driving back and dumping him at Mutora Business Centre.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the four suspects and the recovery of two vehicles — a Toyota Hilux and a Ford Ranger — believed to have been used in committing the crime.
The accused appeared before Gokwe Regional Magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje, with Mr Malvern Nzombe representing the State, and were each convicted and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.
Meanwhile, police are appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of two outstanding suspects, Erickson Mafuratidze and another only identified as Mujudha.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the ZRP National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197, or report to the nearest police station.
