Ex-cop nabbed for impersonation

Sheillah Mapani Herald Reporter
AN ex-cop, using a defaced police identity card, has been arrested for allegedly trying to impound a truck, which he said was delivering drugs. Godwell Chikwasha appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Lucy Ngwari facing charges of impersonating a police officer.

The matter was postponed to November 5 after the complainant failed to appear in court. He was released on $100 bail. The prosecutor, Ms Devoted Nyagano, alleged that on October 5 this year, Danmore Chitsanga, who is a police officer was deployed at the corner of Fifth and Jason Moyo Street. Chikwasha allegedly approached him and introduced himself as a police officer stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

It is alleged that he further informed Chitsanga that there was a vehicle that was delivering drugs. Although the two teamed up to conduct further investigations, Chitsanga became suspicious of Chikwasha and asked him for his identification. It is the State’s case that Chikwasha produced a defaced police identity card, which only had a police logo. This led Chitsanga to suspect that Chikwasha was no longer a police officer. When they approached the truck driver and realised that he did not have proper travel documents, Chikwasha tried to impound the vehicle. It is only then that Chitsanga realised that the fake police officer wanted to use him for his own criminal designs. He subsequently laid a trap for Chikwasha by asking him to accompany him to Zanu-PF provincial offices at Fourth Street bus terminus. While there, Chitsanga met up with his colleagues and arrested Chikwasha.