Fake policeman in court over theft

Lonely Mapfumo (26), who was fired from the force, appeared before magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande charged with two counts of theft and impersonating a police officer. His accomplices are still at large. Ms Makwande remanded him to July 8 for trial on US$50 bail.

Appearing for the State, Mr Thomas Mabwe alleges that on June 7, Mapfumo and his accomplices saw Mike Zarangani, a commuter omnibus driver, dropping passengers at the intersection of Mbuya Nehanda Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue. It is alleged that after dropping the passengers Mapfumo and his gang jumped onto the vehicle. Mapfumo sat on the passenger seat next to the driver while his accomplices sat at the back, the court heard. They told Zarangani that he was under “arrest” before ordering him to drive to Harare Central Police Station.