A City of Harare municipal traffic police officer was reportedly kidnapped by a motorist attempting to evade arrest on New Year’s Eve.
The officer, 23-year-old Felistas Mutongweza, was abducted by an unidentified driver she had stopped for ferrying passengers using a private vehicle without a council license.
Mutongweza had arrested the motorist, who was driving a Toyota Sienta with registration number AGF 8309, at the corner of Rezende Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue around 10 AM.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson for Harare Province, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the case to <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/council-traffic-cop-kidnapped/">H-Metro</a>. He said:
<blockquote>
Police are investigating a kidnapping case involving a Municipal Traffic Police Officer.
On December 31, 2024, the complainant was on duty with her workmates.
Before the complainant’s colleagues entered the car, the accused person drove away with the complainant and other passengers along Sam Nujoma Street towards Belgravia Shopping Centre.
Along the way, the accused person took the complainant’s cell phone so that she could not communicate with her colleagues.
The accused person stopped at Belgravia Shops, disembarked and pulled the complainant out of the motor vehicle.
Accused person gave the complainant her cell phone and drove off.
Complainant phoned her workmates and they picked her up with their motor vehicle.
</blockquote>
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A traffic officer in Harare named Felistas Mutongweza was taken by a driver on New Year's Eve. Mutongweza had stopped the driver for not having a proper license. The driver then drove off with her, taking her phone so she couldn't call for help. The driver later dropped her off and drove away. Mutongweza was eventually found by her colleagues. The police are now investigating the case.

Harare Traffic Officer Kidnapped By Motorist

The City of Harare has suspended eight municipal police officers over allegations of misconduct inconsistent with their prescribed duties.
According to the local authority’s Corporate Communications Manager, Stanley Gama, the suspended employees were involved in corrupt activities.
On October 21, 2024, at Reliance Mall in Harare’s CBD, patrol officers Takudzwa Majachani and Sipiwe Matavire, who are part of the Environmental Patrolwomen Unit, allegedly masqueraded as police officers tasked with shop licensing duties, despite not being authorized to do so. They demanded shop licenses from a shop owner at the mall, actions that were clearly outside their remit.
On the same day, at Superbrite Soap Manufacturing Company in Workington, patrolmen Taurai Guregure, Hebert Mukumba, Tonderai Nyikadzino, and Douglas Nyemba also posed as police officers responsible for shop licensing. They were intercepted by a team of investigators and found in possession of four dozen bars of soap that they had allegedly extorted from the company.
On October 24, 2024, at 80 Lorraine Drive in Mabelreign, council employees Ignatius Pesvani and Newman Mhereyenyoka, under the Harare Water Department, similarly pretended to be police officers on licensing duties. They demanded shop licenses from Kartoque Company but were arrested by members of the public and handed over to the ZRP Mabelreign Police Station.
On October 26, parking supervisors Mapfumo and Muringisi were reported for arresting a motorist for parking over the lines. They allegedly demanded a bribe of USD $20 in exchange for letting the motorist go. When the bribe was handed over, they disembarked from the car they had initially boarded with the intent of taking it to Central Stores for impounding.
Gama said the City of Harare does not tolerate corruption and urged residents to report any suspicious actions by council officials.
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The city of Harare suspended eight police officers for acting corruptly while on duty. Some pretended to be officers in charge of shop licensing and demanded bribes. Others were found with items they had extorted from a company. The city manager said they do not allow corruption and asked people to report any suspicious behavior from city officials.

Harare Suspends Eight Municipal Police Officers Over Corruption Allegations

A Ruwa Local Board Municipal Police Officer, Lucia Sithole (44), was arrested on Friday, September 27, by members of the Southern Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Organisation (SARACO) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from a commuter omnibus driver.
According to a memo addressed to the SARACO Chief Corruption Prevention Intelligence Officer by an Assistant Deputy Director of Operations, Sithole now faces charges of criminal abuse of office as defined by Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].
The allegations are that on September 27, 2024, at approximately 8:20 AM, Sithole and two other municipal police officers were on duty conducting traffic enforcement along the Harare-Mutare highway near the George shopping Centre in Ruwa. Reads the memo:
<blockquote>
A Nissan Caravan commuter omnibus registration No AFE 7538 travelling from Harare to Goromonzi stopped at the market Bus stop along the highway and suddenly a municipal traffic officer emerged and placed a steel bar in the wheel of the commuter omnibus.
</blockquote>
All passengers were ordered to disembark and three municipal police officers jumped inside and ordered the driver to proceed to their council yard. As this was happening the other male officer was writing a fine ticket.
It is alleged that the driver of the kombi and the three municipal police officers left for the council yard, and along the way just near the shops, Sithole asked for twenty dollars from the driver.
The driver said that he had US$10 but she rejected it and insisted on $20.
After the driver gave her two US$10 notes, Sithole then instructed him to make a U-turn and drop them off immediately. Reads the memo:
<blockquote>
The driver drove back to where he had dropped his passengers and advised the three Southern Africa Regional Anti Corruption Organisation members who had earlier on introduced themselves to him before boarding the commuter omnibus at Fourth Street.
</blockquote>
The three members of SARACO contacted their female counterpart nearby and approached the municipal police officers.
They requested that the officers empty their pockets of all cash, but Sithole refused to comply.
Subsequently, the SARACO members searched her and discovered US$45 in her shirt pockets. Two of the US$10 bills matched the photographs taken by the kombi conductor before the money was handed over to the driver.
Sithole was then arrested and taken to Ruwa Police Station, where Chief Inspector Tinarwo was informed.
A docket was opened for violating Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, registered under ZRP Ruwa RRB number 6160549.
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A police officer in Ruwa was caught taking a bribe from a driver by SARACO. The officer, Lucia Sithole, along with two others, stopped a commuter omnibus and demanded money. The driver gave them US$20, but they asked for more. SARACO members intervened and found the money on Sithole. She was arrested and charges were filed against her. The incident happened on the Harare-Mutare highway. Being caught taking bribes is against the law.

Ruwa Municipal Police Officer Caught In Bribery Sting By SARACO

A Harare municipal police officer was struck by a Honda CR-V on Tuesday morning in the central business district while attempting to stop the vehicle from evading arrest.
Reports indicate that the officer, who was part of a traffic enforcement team, jumped out to intercept the car, but the driver refused to comply, resulting in the tragic incident.
The City of Harare confirmed that the female officer was rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment. The council said:
<blockquote>
One of our municipal police officers was hit by an errant motorist who was trying to evade arrest today. The officer P/S Rombayi sustained yet to be determined injuries.
She was rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital where she is admitted and receiving treatment. Motorists are urged to cooperate with municipal police in order to avoid such incidents.
</blockquote>
The council added that the motorist involved in the incident has been taken into custody by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A police officer in Harare was hit by a car while trying to stop it. The officer jumped in front of the car, but the driver didn't stop. Now, the officer is in the hospital getting treatment for her injuries. The city council said that drivers should listen to police and not try to run away. The driver who hit the officer has been arrested by the police. It's important to follow rules to not get hurt or hurt others on the road.

Harare Municipal Police Officer Injured After Jumping In Front Of Vehicle

Nine (9) Bulawayo City Council (BCC) municipal police officers who allegedly fired at vendors with rubber bullets last month have been granted bail.
The <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/bcc-municipal-police-granted-bail/">Chronicle</a> reported that Ignatius Nyathi (51), Herbert Khumalo (55), Ntokozo Moyo (46), Lungton Moyo (42), Cent Moyo (49) Bekisipho Ncube (50) Lawrence Mathwasa (60 Bekezela Ncube 56, Mthabisi Moyo (30) appeared in court each facing two counts of attempted murder.
They were granted ZWL$50 000 bail each by Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza, who remanded them to 14 March.
As part of the bail conditions, the accused were ordered to report once a week at Bulawayo Central Police Station (homicide section).
Allegations were that on 23 February 2023, at around 7 AM, the accused persons were part of a team of municipal police who were on duty dispersing illegal vendors in Bulawayo Central Business District.
The court heard that the team was dispersing illegal vendors from an undesignated area along 5th Avenue between Lobengula Street and Jason Moyo Street.
They encountered a group of people chanting protest songs against BCC security details. Prosecutor Concilia Ncube said:
<blockquote>
The accused persons who were armed with shotguns fired 41 shots indiscriminately towards the protesting group and as a result, Concilia Ndlovu was shot in the left hand and sustained an injury and there is a lodged foreign object which is yet to be extracted.
</blockquote>
It is alleged that Ndlovu was not part of the group and was carrying out her normal business.
The second complainant Prosper Munemo was shot in the groin and sustained injuries.
The accused were released after their lawyers Messrs Herbert Chimbete and Maqhawe Mpofu of Coghlan and Welsh Legal Practitioners successfully applied for bail.
The State had opposed bail arguing that there was no guarantee that if released, the accused persons would not abscond given the gravity of the offence.
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