Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
Two detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department in Norton found themselves on the wrong side of the law after they allegedly demanded a US$400 bribe to release a suspect caught in possession of dagga.
Tawanda Mudzingwa Makaza (39) and Venancio Mapfumo (35) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, charged with criminal abuse of office as public officers.
The court granted them $100 bail each, and they are expected to return to court on October 17.
The complainant in this case is the State, and the two officers are represented by their lawyer, Killian Mandiki.
According to the prosecution on September 16 at around 2.30am, Makaza and Mapfumo arrived at Kaseke Village, Chief Chivero, Mhondoro, in a Toyota Mark X.
They searched Dumisani Tawanda Masengu’s home and discovered three transparent plastic bags containing dagga.
Masengu was arrested on the spot. The detectives then proceeded to Makawa Village, where they arrested Abigail Kamurai, who was allegedly in possession of a large plastic bag with dagga.
Both suspects were taken to Gonza Police Base and detained overnight.
However, the following morning, at around 8.50am, the two detectives took Masengu and Kamurai to Gonza Shopping Centre and along the way, they allegedly demanded money in exchange for Masengu’s freedom.
When Masengu offered US$50, the officers rejected it, stating it was too little. Masengu’s mother, Constance Masengu, was contacted, and she offered $100, but the officers refused, insisting on US$400 for her son’s release.
In a desperate move, Constance borrowed the US$400 from three different people. She later handed over the $400 to Detective Constable Mapfumo, after which Masengu was released.
Kamurai, however, remained in custody. The alleged misconduct came to light after a tip-off was made to the Police Internal Investigations team, led by Chief Inspector Raymond Kudakwashe Mukoko.
The team tracked the detectives to Mhuriro Business Centre, where their Toyota Mark X was parked unattended.
When the two officers returned to their vehicle, Mapfumo was reportedly seen by Chief Inspector Mukoko attempting to hide something near an ant hill.
Upon searching the detectives, the investigation team recovered US$360 from Makaza and US$20 from Mapfumo.
A subsequent search of the ant hill revealed US$420 hidden in the grass nearby.
