Two police officers, accused of turning a Mabvuku roadblock into a source of illegal income by accepting bribes from drivers, will remain in custody for at least five days following their court appearance.
Sergeant James Chifamba and Constable Trymore Mukunza were caught on video accepting ‘gifts’ from the drivers of minibuses, taxis, and other public transport vehicles. The footage went viral, leading to their arrest.
The two officers faced charges of criminal abuse of office when they appeared before Regional Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.
According to the State, Chifamba and Mukunza were on duty last Saturday to enforce traffic regulations, with specific instructions to stop vehicles and inspect them for violations. However, instead of performing their duties, the officers allegedly waited for drivers to approach them, engage in brief conversations, and offer bribes in exchange for leniency.
The prosecution argued that the officers’ actions showed favoritism towards certain motorists, violating their professional responsibilities.
The defense attorneys for the two officers plan to submit a formal bail application today, and the prosecutor, Anesu Chirenje, will respond tomorrow. The case was postponed to November 11 for a ruling on bail.
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