Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Reporter
A detective constable from Plumtree has appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate, facing charges of extortion involving a demand for US$1 000 to prevent the prosecution of a robbery suspect.
Detective Constable Collen Mwoyo, who is attached to the Minerals, Flora and Fauna Section in Plumtree, Matabeleland South Province, appeared before Provincial Magistrate Richard Ramaboea this week.
Ramaboea granted Mwoyo US$200 bail, allowing him to represent himself in his application. The trial is scheduled to continue next Monday (27 October 2025).
As part of his bail conditions, Mwoyo was ordered to report to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) offices from Monday to Friday. Mwoyo had pleaded with the court to be allowed to report to a police station in Plumtree, citing his residence there, but a Zacc officer opposed his request and stated that Mwoyo is a police officer and he cannot report to a police station.
He was also instructed not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at the address he provided to the court.
Prosecuting, Denmark Chihombe, alleged that the detective targeted Andrew Munemo, a project manager employed by Posse Solutions Private Limited Company.
The court heard that Detective Constable Mwoyo initially arrested Munemo on 23 September 2025 in connection with a robbery case that had occurred in the area, but later released him under unclear circumstances. Five days later, the detective allegedly re-arrested Munemo for the same robbery case.
Following this, Chihombe told the court that the accused reportedly demanded US$1 000 from Munemo to avoid being detained and subsequently prosecuted. The court heard that Munemo gave him an initial payment of US$500.
Two days later, Mwoyo allegedly pounced again. The court heard that Mwoyo took Munemo to Plumtree Magistrate Courts for an interview with prosecutors, after which he demanded the outstanding balance and was given a further US$200.
Chihombe alleged that the police officer later threatened the complainant to force the full payment.
The officer’s attempts to recover the remaining money ultimately led to his downfall.
On 10 October 2025, Detective Constable Mwoyo took the complainant to court for an initial remand hearing because he had failed to pay the remaining money. The officer also threatened him with imprisonment, the court heard.
The final demand led to a trap being set. The court was told that on 13 October, the police officer reportedly called Munemo and informed him that he was in Bulawayo to collect the remaining money.
Munemo then reported the matter to Zacc, and a trap was set, leading to the arrest of Detective Constable Mwoyo after he received US$120 at Bellevue Shopping Centre.
Bongani Ndlovu