Two police officers have appeared in court on charges of criminal abuse of duty after allegedly demanding money from a Chinese national in exchange for his release.<\/p>\n
Prosper Chimbumu, 35, who is stationed at Borrowdale Police Station, and Paradzai Matubu, 34, based at Mukumbura Police Station, appeared before Harare magistrate Jessie Kufa. The complainant is a Chinese national, Lin Qi Hui.<\/p>\n
The State alleges that on 1 June 2026, Lin was travelling along Teign Road, Borrowdale, with fellow Chinese national Manliang Zhang and Ashling Marodza, an employee of Senta Bricks Company.<\/p>\n
On reaching the French School in Borrowdale, the two accused, who were in civilian clothes, allegedly signalled the vehicle to stop.<\/p>\n
The complainant ignored the instruction because the men did not identify themselves as police officers.<\/p>\n
The court heard that Chimbumu and Matubu, travelling in a Honda Fit, registration AGC 3312, pursued and overtook the vehicle before ordering the occupants to stop.<\/p>\n
After stopping the car, the pair allegedly said they were officers from ZRP Milton Park deployed to verify the immigration status and permits of Chinese nationals.<\/p>\n
Zhang produced his permit, while Lin told the officers he had left his documents at home. The accused then allegedly demanded US$600 from Lin for his release.<\/p>\n
Suspicious of their conduct, Marodza contacted Superintendent Mashiri to verify whether the men were police officers.<\/p>\n
Matubu identified himself to Superintendent Mashiri as Constable Muzorewa from Borrowdale Traffic. This raised suspicion because traffic officers do not enforce immigration offences.<\/p>\n
Superintendent Mashiri then dispatched a CID Harare team to verify the officers\u2019 identities and actions.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors allege Chimbumu and Matubu later raised their demand to US$1,000 and told the complainant to call friends to raise the money.<\/p>\n
When no money was forthcoming, the accused allegedly drove the complainant to Sky Plaza in Borrowdale, where they kept demanding payment while waiting for his friends.<\/p>\n
Unknown to the officers, the complainant\u2019s associates were stalling to give detectives time to arrive.<\/p>\n
After failing to obtain money, the accused drove the complainant to ZRP Milton Park Police Station, where they formally arrested him for allegedly contravening section 29 of the Immigration Act.<\/p>\n
While being driven to the station, the complainant activated Google Maps live location sharing, allowing his friends and detectives to track his movements.<\/p>\n
His associates and detectives followed the officers to Milton Park Police Station, where Chimbumu and Matubu were arrested as they handed over the complainant.<\/p>\n
Investigations allegedly found the two officers were not on duty at the time and had no authority to arrest the complainant or demand money.<\/p>\n
The State further alleges that they had no lawful basis to solicit payment in exchange for his release.<\/p>\n
Related:<\/b><\/p>\n
Gwanda Man (25) Jailed Three Years For Having Sex With 15-Year-Old<\/p>\n
Two Armed Robbers Get Away With US$12,000 From Macheke Service Station<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Two police officers have appeared in court on charges of criminal abuse of duty after allegedly demanding money from a Chinese national in exchange for his release. Prosper Chimbumu, 35, who is stationed at Borrowdale Police Station, and Paradzai Matubu, 34, based at Mukumbura Police Station, appeared before Harare magistrate Jessie Kufa. The complainant is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":116977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy"],"yoast_head":"\n