adminConrad Mupesa Mash West Bureau
A tuckshop owner breaching the lockdown curfew, overpowered a gang allegedly led by a police officer that first tried to extort US$100 and later tried to take his stock.
Already, three of the gang members have been convicted and fined for extortion.
Mr Blessing Mbundire runs a tuckshop on Angwa farm in Makonde district and a fortnight ago during the night, he and others were drinking beer at the tuckshop when a car, a Toyota Spacio registration number ACV 1681, pulled up with six people, two in police uniform.
Aboard were police officer, Shingirai Chirinda (27) of 7740 Ruvimbo phase one in Chinhoyi, special constabulary officer Emma Chishiri (47) of 11520 Ruvimbo, Victor Chishiri (23) of Plot 48 Mtunzi Farm, Cosmas Chingwaru of 9643 Ruvimbo phase 2, and two others still at large.
According to evidence presented to Chinhoyi provincial magistrate Mr Ranga Rwizi last week by prosecutor Mr Nyasha Sibesha, Chirinda allegedly told Mr Mbundire that he was violating the curfew.
He then demanded US$100, which Mr Mbundire reluctantly handed over.
The group then changed their minds, handed back the money and started loading the contents of the tuckshop into their car.
Mr Mbundire decided to block the move and with the help of others at the scene, he overpowered the group, off-loaded the groceries and reported the matter to the police.
Officers from Chinhoyi Central police attended the scene and arrested the four. Groceries worth US$1 470 were recovered.
One of the six also allegedly extorted US$10 from Mercy Mukandawire (30), whom they accused of violating lockdown curfew when she met one of the civilians in the group.
Online Reporter