CIO impostor nabbed

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A Harare man could have accessed sensitive State secrets after he allegedly forged a fake Central Intelligence Organisation identity card that he used to enter various Government buildings.
It is the State’s case that the man also acquired an air gun that he used to threaten people while posing as a CIO operative.
Courage Zaranyika (26) appeared before magistrate Ms Rekina Dzikiti on Monday charged with possession of articles for criminal use.

He was remanded to next Wednesday on US$50 bail.
Prosecutor Ms Venencia Mutake alleged that on September 4, detectives from CID Homicide received information that Zaranyika was moving around with a “firearm” which he used to threaten people.

They also heard that he was in possession of a Government identity card which he used to gain entry into various institutions while posing as a member of the State security agency.

It is the State’s case that when Zaranyika was arrested at the Charge Office Bus Terminus, the gun was found on his waist while the identity card was in his wallet.
When he was quizzed by the police officers, the court heard that Zaranyika maintained that he was a genuine member of the State security agency and that the gun he had was his service “pistol”.

Verifications were made with Central Intelligence Organisation officers who dismissed Zaranyika’s claims.