By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Two police officers and a public prosecutor from Mutasa have been arraigned before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court on charges of criminal abuse of duty.
Sencia Masase, Liberty Tivakudze, and Shepherd Chavarika were granted bail of US$100 each.
It is alleged that on an unknown date in March 2025, the first complainant had her truck seized by Accused 1, Sencia Masase at a roadblock in Marara.
The seizure was for allegedly transporting smuggled goods from Mozambique and the second complainant, identified as owner of the smuggled goods was arrested and detained for two days at Mutasa Police Station and the truck was impounded.
Accused 1 was the investigating officer and Accused 3, Shepherd Chavarika, a Public Prosecutor with the National Prosecution Authority at Mutasa Magistrates’ Court, was prosecuting the case. Around April 3, 2025, the Accused 2, Constable Liberty Tivakudze, contacted the first complainaint and requested that she goes to Hauna to discuss the truck’s release.
Upon arrival, she met Accused 2 and 3 who demanded US$500 for the truck’s release, with Accused 3 claiming to be the prosecutor handling the matter.
Under pressure, Manonga gave US$170 to Accused 3. The following day, the complainant visited Accused 3’s office and was instructed to make an Ecocash transaction of US$100. Accused 3 promised that the vehicle would be released by April 9, 2025. However, the truck had already been taken to Forbes Border ZIMRA offices.
Accused 3 then further demanded US$300 to facilitate the acquittal of the second complainant and the release of the truck. This led the first complainant to report the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
A trap was set, resulting in the arrest of the accused persons in Accused 3’s office at Mutasa Magistrates’ Court, where US$200 was recovered from Accused 3.