Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer, who declared himself the new Police Commissioner-General last year and issued illegal directives via social media, has been found not guilty and acquitted due to mental illness.
Simbarashe Mandizvidza (35) was facing three charges of allegedly causing disaffection among members of the police or defence forces, fraudulently procuring the use of a police car and transmitting false data with the intent to cause harm.
Mandizvidza was stationed at the Salaries Services Bureau Liaison Office at Police General Headquarters.
In his ruling, Harare provincial magistrate Mr Artwell Sanyatwe said the two medical doctors who examined Mandizvidza concluded that he had a mental disorder and was not in proper health when he committed the offence.
Mr Sanyatwe ordered that Mandizvidza must be taken back to Chikurubi Maximum Prison Psychiatric Hospital so that he continues with his medication for his safety and that of the community.
It was the State’s case that sometime last year Mandizvidza recorded a video at his official residence at Hatfield Police Camp using a Canon 250D camera.
In the video, he falsely proclaimed himself as the new Commissioner-General, ordered the suspension of all police traffic section duties and declared that all Chinese nationals and businesspeople leave the country within 48 hours.
The video was uploaded to a YouTube channel, Gondo Harishaye and went viral. The court heard that Mandizvidza’s actions were meant to cause disaffection within the police force, creating psychological distress among foreign nationals and inflicting economic harm on Zimbabwe.
On the same day, Mandizvidza allegedly approached Chief Inspector Fidios Chiteure, Officer-in-Charge at Police General Headquarters Pay and Records section, claiming he had been instructed by Commissioner Makomo to use a police Ford Ranger for errands.
Believing the claim, Chief Inspector Chiteure authorised the vehicle’s release.
Mandizvidza then drove the Ford Ranger to Waerera Village under Chief Masembura’s jurisdiction in Bindura where it was later recovered.
The State proved that he had no right to obtain or use the car under false pretences. The court also heard that Mandizvidza uploaded a second video to his YouTube channel, again falsely declaring himself the head of the ZRP, despite Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba being the legitimate leader of the police force.
The prosecution contended this further incited disaffection among police officers. It was alleged that Mandizvidza’s conduct breached laws governing the use of information and communication systems and damaged Zimbabwe’s reputation and economy.
