By Takudzwa Tondoya
A Mutasa Magistrate Court prosecutor and two police officers have been arrested for allegedly demanding bribes to release an impounded truck and influence the outcome of a criminal case.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) confirmed the arrest of Prosecutor Shephard Chavarika, Constable Liberty Tivafukidze, and Constable Sencia Masase all stationed in Mutasa District.
The trio has been charged with extortion and criminal abuse of duty.
According to court documents, the matter dates back to March 26, 2025, when a truck transporting agricultural produce from Honde Valley to Harare was intercepted at a roadblock in Marara on suspicion of carrying smuggled goods.
The goods’ owners were arrested and the truck impounded.
The case was brought before the Mutasa Magistrate Court, with Chavarika acting as the prosecutor.
However, what began as a legal process allegedly turned into a bribery scheme.
On April 3, Constable Tivafukidze reportedly contacted one of the truck’s owners and summoned her to Hauna, where she met with both Tivafukidze and Chavarika.
The two allegedly demanded a bribe of USD 500 to facilitate the truck’s release.
The complainant is said to have paid USD 170 in cash followed by a USD 100 EcoCash payment the next day.
Despite these payments, the truck was not returned as promised. Instead, it was transferred to the ZIMRA compound at Forbes Border Post.
The suspects then allegedly demanded an additional USD 300 to ensure the acquittal of the arrested individuals.
Alarmed by the persistent demands, the complainants approached ZACC, which initiated a sting operation.
The operation culminated in the arrest of Chavarika, Tivafukidze, and Masase at the Mutasa Magistrates Court, with USD 200 recovered from Chavarika.
The three were brought before Mutare Provincial Magistrate Enia Ndiraya on charges of extortion and criminal abuse of duty. They were granted USD 100 bail each and remanded to June 5, 2025.
