By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Two Mbare police officers Naume Dube (31) and Victoria Shonhiwa (36) have been convicted of soliciting bribes from motorists.They were convicted by the Harare Magistrate Court.
The constables stationed at Mbare Police Station were found guilty of criminal abuse of duty after demanding US$1 from every motorist passing through the police station’s main gate.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), states that following a tip-off, officers from the Internal Investigations Department conducted surveillance, observing the two officers accepting bribes.
Upon arrest, Dube was found with US$80 in her shirt pockets, while Shonhiwa had US$40.
A list of motor vehicle registration numbers was also recovered and produced in court as evidence, along with the US$120.
Recently, two junior police officers were arrested in Mutare on allegations of soliciting a bribe from a motorist.
The conviction of police officers who accept and solicit bribes from motorists shows the ongoing efforts to end corruption within Zimbabwe’s law enforcement agencies.