adminMashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
THE trial date of five Bulawayo traffic police officers who were last week arrested for allegedly soliciting for bribes at a roadblock in Nkulumane has been set for November 9.
The five cops, Zodwa Takawira, 29, an Assistant Inspector, Zvinoitirweyi Masakwata, 29, Severino Mutote, 26, Courage Lice, 27, and Hilda Murombedzi, 24, all constables stationed at Nkulumane ZRP Traffic, on Thursday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of extortion. They were remanded out of custody pending trial.
Prosecuting, Nathaniel Mutsikwa said on October 5 this year at about 7AM, the five traffic cops were on duty manning a roadblock along Masiyephambili Road near Nkulumane Complex when a trap was set by an internal investigations team from ZRP headquarters in Harare.
As part of their duties, the traffic police officers were checking out for vehicle defects and receipting spot fines for traffic offences.
They were also receiving kickbacks from motorists, it is alleged.
The court heard that the investigations team, acting on a tip off, set a trap for their colleagues.
“In their quest to arrest the five offending cops, the investigations teams enlisted the services of Goodwill Mambo, a conductor of a kombi which they had boarded. They gave him a marked P50 so that they could set a trap,” said Mutsikwa.
When the kombi arrived at the roadblock, Masakwata signalled it to stop while his colleagues observed the proceedings from the roadside.
Masakwata pretended to be checking the vehicle before he demanded $3 from Mambo who immediately gave the money to Mutote.
The investigations team disembarked from the kombi and confronted the cops. They recovered P50 hidden inside a plastic bag which also contained $151,50 and R28.
The five traffic police officers failed to account for the money which was not receipted in their deposit fine book leading to their arrest.
Online Reporter