Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
PRIVATE investigator and former cop Tafadzwa Chidawa, popularly known as Detective Kedha, is set to know his fate today when Chief magistrate Vongai Guwuriro hands down judgment in the case in which he is facing theft charges.
Detective Kedha and his accomplices — Paradza Passmore Matubu, Francis Takura and Perseverance Chisango — have all been in custody for close to a month now after defaulting court for about a year.
The complainant is Melody Matanhire.
The case has generated a lot of interest on social media. The court heard that Matanhire was in an adulterous relationship with Malvern Mutanda, who is at large.
She was informed by Malvern that he was in possession of about US$100 000 soiled money which needed some cleaning.
Mutanda said the cleaning process would require at least US$20,000 clean bills which should be mixed with soiled money and some chemicals. The person who was to supply the US$20,000 would earn some interest or commission upon the successful completion of the process. Acting on the misrepresentation, it is alleged that on August 27 2020, Matanhire advised Mutanda that she had managed to secure the US$20,000.
She went with Mutanda to Blue Ridge Lodge, where they were going to clean the money.
She took the US$20,000 from her matrimonial home in Gen Lorne, Harare.
What she did not know, according to the State, was that her lover Mutanda had connived with Detective Kedha, Takura, Chisango and Paradzai Passmore Matubu, to steal from her.
The court heard that when Matanhire and Mutanda entered Blue Ridge Lodge, the latter requested for the US$20,000 and she handed over the money which was then put into a cooler box.
Detective Kedha and his team then burst into the room, manhandling Mutanda while masquerading as police officers, who had been looking for him.
The offence came to light after Matanhire stage managed a robbery to cover up for the loss to her husband.
Detective Kedha broke down in court as he was questioned to explain why his old police identity card was found in the car, which was being driven by one of the suspects when he was arrested.
He told the court that he was also surprised how the identity card had left the police station, where he had surrendered it upon resigning from the police force.
Takura also took to the stand and denied ever being at the lodge.
He told the court that the police linked him to the offence because he was the friend of Mutanda, who is currently on the run.
Takura is serving a 36-year jail term after being convicted of armed robbery and was issued with a warrant of arrest while he was in custody serving his term.
