By Shalom Shawurwa
A police officer stationed in Karoi has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after being convicted of criminal abuse of duty in a bribery and cover-up scandal involving a drug suspect.
Farai Mukwasi (60) a constable with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was handed the sentence by a Karoi Magistrate following a damning exposé of his role in manipulating charges against a suspect in exchange for a bribe.
The court suspended six months of the sentence on the condition of good behavior.
The remaining 18 months were further suspended on the condition that Mukwasi completes 630 hours of community service.
The charges stem from a joint operation on August 13, 2024, involving seven ZRP officers and eight Zimbabwe National Parks Rangers in the Sanyati Gorge and Kings Camp area.
The crackdown targeted illegal fishing and other criminal activities resulting in the arrest of 23 suspects.
One of the arrested individuals, Portia Mairos, was found with 22 twists of dagga (cannabis) during a search at her Kings Camp residence.
She was taken into custody and detained overnight at Chalala Police Post.
According to court documents at around 2:00 a.m. while Mairos was sleeping at the charge office, Constable Mukwasi solicited a US$50 bribe from her in exchange for her release.
After receiving the payment, he let her go however, the cover-up was short-lived.
Mairos was re-arrested just hours later, at approximately 7:00 a.m. at Chalala Harbour. During questioning, she disclosed that she had paid Mukwasi for her release and that he had personally escorted her from the police post.
In a bid to conceal his misconduct, Mukwasi had issued a receipt indicating that Mairos had paid US$15 for Disorderly Conduct, thereby downgrading her charge from drug possession — a more serious offense — to a petty one.
The court found this act to be a gross abuse of office, compromising both the integrity of law enforcement and the public trust.
