Zimpapers Logo

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A former municipal cop and a member of the police constabulary were on Wednesday sentenced to 13 months in prison each for extorting US$23 from a commuter omnibus crew. Shingirayi Rusike (32) and Lovemore Robson (31) demanded US$30 from a kombi crew they had “arrested” for picking passengers at an undesignated place in Harare. The crew managed to put together US$23 which they gave to the pair, but their luck ran out when the kombi was stopped at a police roadblock.

Magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo convicted Robson and Rusike after the State, led by Mrs Molyn Mutamangira-Mavhondo, proved its case against them. He sentenced them to 13 months in jail, with six months suspended on condition of good behaviour. They will spend seven months behind bars.

Mr Makomo said corruption was now rampant and there was need for deterrent sentences.
“Most people are losing their money as a result of bogus police officers. Robson is a police constabulary and was alone on the day in question and there was no way he could have been deployed alone to carry the duties. Also, Rusike, who is a former municipal cop, went on to impound a motor vehicle which clearly shows that they acted as bogus officers. A stiffer penalty needs to be passed so as to deter would-be-offenders,” he said.

In mitigation, the pair pleaded for the court’s leniency saying they were family men. On January 25, Robson and Rusike “arrested” the kombi crew at the intersection of Charter Road and Mbuya Nehanda Street.

They ordered all the passengers to disembark and told the driver to drive to Harare Municipal Central Stores. Along the way, the pair demanded a US$30 bribe to grant the crew its freedom. They were given US$23 but they were arrested when the kombi was stopped by an anti-corruption team at a police roadblock.