adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A 24-year-old Harare man has been arrested for allegedly posing as a member of the Presidential Guard during the just-ended Sadc Summit held in Victoria Falls.
Ison Chirikutsi of Budiriro 4 was allegedly discharged from the Zimbabwe National Army but continued using the army’s identification cards.
Chirikutsi was arrested at a roadblock along the Victoria Falls-Kazungula Road on Monday after claiming to police officers manning a roadblock that he was coming from Elephant Hills, the venue of the summit where he was stationed as a member of the Presidential Guard.
He appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani Chirikutsi charged with unlawful possession of a document issued in connection with the defence forces or other military forces.
Chirikutsi pleaded not guilty and was granted $50 bail.
“I was not discharged. I am still a soldier on suspension pending appeal,” said Chirikutsi without giving details on his alleged suspension.
Prosecuting, Takunda Ndovorwi said Chirikutsi was discharged from the ZNA 2.1 Infantry Battalion in Mutoko and as such was unlawfully possessing army identity documents.
“On August 18 the accused approached police officers manning a roadblock at the 69km peg along Victoria Falls-Kazungula Road and identified himself to Detective Assistant Inspector Dhliwayo as a soldier stationed at Presidential Guard in Harare and had been deployed to Elephant Hills base for Sadc duty,” said Ndovorwi.
An alert police officer suspected that Chirikutsi was an imposter and recovered a ZNA identity card bearing his name after searching him.
Inquiries were made with Presidential Guard officers at Elephant Hills who confirmed Chirikutsi had been discharged and was no longer a soldier. He was then arrested, the court was told.
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