Harare, Zimbabwe | A 47-year-old man from Budiriro, Harare, has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a police officer and extorting money during a segment of the Star FM program “Tilder Live Show.”
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest in a statement.
“Reference is made to a Star FM program hosted by Tilder Moyo, titled Tilder Live Show: Zvinoyera nezvinotyisa nezvinoda kufumurwa, aired on December 17, 2024,” he said.
According to Commissioner Nyathi, the suspect, Shepherd Mangoma, falsely presented himself as a detective from the CID Homicide division in Harare.
He targeted the family of the late Darlington Tendai Mapiki, who had appeared on the program to express concerns about Mapiki’s death on October 27, 2024, in Rugare.
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The family disputed the post-mortem results, which ruled the death as suicide, and suspected foul play. They claimed that Mangoma approached them on December 9, 2024, claiming he had information linking Mapiki’s death to foul play.
The suspect allegedly demanded US$500 from the family, saying he could help arrest individuals he claimed were responsible for Mapiki’s death. Mangoma further alleged that the pathologist had been bribed to manipulate the post-mortem results and accused a businessman and a traditional healer, among others, of being involved in Mapiki’s murder for ritual purposes.
On December 18, 2024, the family reported the incident to the CID Police Anti-Corruption Unit, leading to a sting operation. Mangoma was arrested at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare after accepting US$200 from the family as part of the setup.
Police Warning to the Public
Commissioner Nyathi urged the public to be cautious of individuals posing as police officers in public places and demanding money or personal information.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police calls on members of the public to report anyone claiming to be a police officer in unauthorized settings such as streets or shopping centers, particularly if they demand cash or sensitive details,” he said.
The public is encouraged to report such incidents via the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631, WhatsApp on 0712 800 197, or at their nearest police station.
