Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A 30-YEAR-OLD Harare man was arrested after he attempted to evade routine checks at Forbes Border Post by impersonating a Central Intelligence officer.
The matter came to light when Tichaona Tagwirei appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira on Wednesday, who remanded him out of custody to October 8, 2026 on US$200 bail.
Tagwirei was charged with impersonation as defined in Section 179 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, (Chapter 9:23).
Ms Joice Tinarwo, who appeared for the State, told the court that Tagwirei sought to obtain an advantage for himself when he impersonated a member of the President’s Office, stationed at Hardwick House in Harare, to Mr Derick Shizha at Forbes Border Post in Mutare on Tuesday.
Tagwirei is the chief executive officer of West Villa Hardware.
The complainant is the State, represented by Mr Shizha, who works as a dog handler for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), and is stationed at Forbes Border Post.
Ms Tinarwo said that at about 12:45pm on Tuesday, Tagwirei was driving a Toyota Hilux D4D (AGH 0375), from Mozambique.
Mr Shizha stopped him at the entry point, and intended to search his vehicle.
Ms Tinarwo said Tagwirei told Mr Shizha he was a member of the President’s Office, in a bid to obtain an advantage associated with the organisation, knowing that he was not a member.
Mr Shizha asked Tagwirei to produce an identity card for the organisation, but failed to do so.
Mr Shizha then made a report that led to Tagwirei’s arrest.
