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Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
A SENIOR police officer is being investigated for criminal abuse of office and harassment of subordinates, after a two-paged complaint was filed against him to his superiors.
The officer-in-charge of Tsholotsho Police Station, Chief Inspector Samuel Tadzaushe, is accused of extortion, taking bribes, abuse of office and also harassment of subordinates among a number of complaints by the subordinates.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police had launched an investigation into the matter.
“We are grateful for alerting us on the matter and we have launched a full scale investigation into the matter. We will provide further information on the matter once investigations are complete,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Among the allegations, in a letter addressed to the Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Chief Insp Tadzaushe is accused of being part of a cartel that antagonised a Chinese investor who intended to set up a sawmill in the district until they gave up.
Reads the document: “On 15/05/19 he fabricated a story to a certain company owned by the Chinese who were wishing to operate in Tsholotsho but have since relocated to Lupane. He was paid RTGS$300, which was deposited into a teller’s account and was later withdrawn and handed over to him.”
Chief Insp Tadzaushe is also accused of extorting groceries worth about R500, after he attended to a murder scene and ordered the accused to pay him so that he would lessen the charge. In another allegation, Chief Insp Tadzaushe is said to have misrepresented the force, claiming that a vehicle needed to be serviced.
“On 2 April he was investigating a fraud case against the RDC. He went to Lodzi Hunters and collected US$70 on the pretext that the money was meant to service a CID vehicle.”
On the issues of harassment of subordinates Chief Insp Tadzaushe is alleged to force junior officers to clean his quarters during and after working hours, whereby some of the officers’ spouses have since lodged complaints at the station but nothing has been done.
Chief Insp Tadzaushe is also alleged to be selling fuel on the black market, where he forces junior officers to sell the commodity on his behalf.
“He operates an illegal fuel station at Tshefunye Business Centre and uses junior officers to sell the fuel. They sell the fuel while dressed in police uniform,” reads the dossier.
Chief Insp Tadzaushe is also alleged to harass female officers, where he is said to attend parade wearing shorts.
“He rarely wears a uniform, only when he anticipates a visit. He wears black shorts during parade and it has a very light material, which shapes out his private parts,” further reads dossier.
He is also accused of harassing some junior officers’ wives, where he reportedly demands they give him chickens, which they rear to sustain their families.
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