adminGabrielle Gede Manicaland Correspondent
THREE Harare men have appeared in court on allegations of theft and masquerading as officials from the Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption Commission (ZACC).
Tawanda Tandara (33), Pardon Chitembwe (42) and Farai Kambarami (32) appeared before Mutare magistrate Ms Sekai Chiundura facing theft and impersonation charges.
The complainant is Mrs Confidence Pasipatorwa who works at the Mutare Criminal Court as an interpreter. The case was however transferred to Rusape Magistrates Court to avoid the possibility of the witness tampering with proceedings, and trial is expected to commence on June 28.
It is the State’s case that on January 8 this year, the accused persons approached Ms Pasipatorwa who was in the company of her brother Given and another lady.
They allegedly introduced themselves as anti-corruption agents on a mission to curb illegal smuggling of goods imported into the city
They asked to see Given’s passport and while checking it they allegedly took R350 which was in the passport case.
Chitembwe suggested that they take the victims to the police station but on their way there, he demanded Ms Pasipatorwa’s identity card, which she had left at home.
He suggested that they drive to her house in Dangamvura to get it and the left the Given and the other lady behind.
When they got to the complainant house they went into her bedroom and Chitembwe allegedly seized US$230 from a drawer, accusing her of being an illegal forex dealer.
He then told her that he would wait for her outside while she continued to search for her ID.
When she later went outside with the document, Chitembwe had driven off with her money.
The accused were arrested on February 19 after police found the vehicle the duo had used.
Online Reporter