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Court Reporter
A former soldier who stole a civilian’s Ordinary Level results and birth certificate to land a post as a police officer, yesterday pleaded to be pardoned saying he was the best cop at his station.

Mbonisi Moyo (29) told the court that he investigated over 20 cases and has a good record at the police station he was stationed.

He stole Morris Tshuma’s birth certificate and used it to acquire a national identity card in Tshuma’s name.

Furthermore, he stole Tshuma’s ‘O’ Level certificate with eight passes that he used with the identification particulars to be recruited in the police force.

Harare magistrate, Ms Nomsa Sabarauta, will sentence Moyo today.

In mitigation, Moyo who was represented by his lawyer Mr Tungamirai Muganhiri told the court that the zeal to serve his country led him to commit the offence.

“He is patriotic. When he left the army he did not go and steal, but joined the police to catch criminals.

“He emulates his elder brother who is a cop. He was also motivated by economic hardships. He wants to work for the country and also earn a living.

“While he pleaded guilty, that shall not affect the punishment of the enactment of the Police Act section 65 which stipulate a fine and imprisonment not exceeding six months,” said Mr Muganhiri.

However, Prosecutor Ms Shambadzeni Fungura, urged the court to give Moyo a deterrent sentence.

“He stole someone’s documents, that is the worst of all crimes. His moral blameworthiness is high and men of his calibre put the name of the police force in disrepute,” she said. The court heard that on February 1, 2008 Moyo was recruited into the Zimbabwe National Army with two ‘O’ Level passes in Ndebele and Integrated Science.

He was posted to the Presidential guard wing in Harare, but later resigned from the ZNA.

On unknown dates, Moyo stole Tshuma’s birth certificate and Ordinary Level certificates with eight passes.

He then used the birth certificate and went on to acquire national identity card number 79-121264-B-06 in Tshuma’s name.

On July 3, 2013 Moyo used Tshuma’s identification particulars to join ZRP and was allocated force number 081831X.

After graduation, Moyo was posted to ZRP Headlands.

However, Moyo’s luck ran out after his superiors got information that he had forged documents.