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Abel Zhakata Mutare Bureau
MUTARE City Council has suspended a municipal cop on allegations of demanding $1 bribes from vendors, while several others are reportedly under investigation as the local authority takes a bold move to stamp out rot.

Municipal police officers had become infamous for demanding bribes from vendors and motorists prejudicing the local authority of thousands of dollars in potential revenue.

Chamber secretary Mr Cephas Vuta said the local authority had put in place a raft of measures to weed out corrupt officers.

He, however, said publicising the adopted strategies would compromise the anti-corruption drive.

“Council has in store a number of strategies to stamp out corruption within the municipal police,” he said.

“However, publicising the strategies may result in the perpetrators devising counter measures. My office will advise you on the success stories. We have received reports of parking supervisors demanding bribes in order to free clamped vehicles but no formal reports have been made to my office.”

Mr Vuta confirmed Innocent Mukahanana’s suspension. He was allegedly caught red-handed receiving bribes from vendors in Sakubva.

“He is on suspension awaiting disciplinary hearing,” he said. In the suspension letter dated August 3, 2017 written by Mr Vuta, Mukahanana is alleged to have received a $1 bribe from two vendors operating in the high-density suburb.

“It has come to my attention that on 28 June 2017, you were deployed at Sakubva Old Produce Market (Chigomba) and later on arrested by a team of detectives from Mutare Central Police Station on allegations of corruption following a tip-off by two vendors, namely Nesbert Matondo and Blessing Duri.

“You were subsequently detained in police cells at Mutare Central as from 28 June 2017 and released on free bail on 30 June 2017 after appearing in court where you were remanded out of custody. I am further advised that your case is still pending at the magistrates’ courts. Your conduct violated Section 4 (a) of Statutory Instrument 15 of 2006. I am therefore suspending you from council employment with immediate effect and without benefits.”