Crimes and Courts Correspondent
Two Harare men, Taurai Zingoga (32) and Dambudzo Mbwana (40), have been taken to court for allegedly impersonating Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) officers.
The duo is accused of trying to extort $1,000 from Bhola Hardware manager, Timothy Mudheredhe, by claiming they were investigating tax evasion allegations against the company.
According to prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, Zingoga and Mbwana introduced themselves as ZACC’s director and investigation officer, respectively, on September 14. They demanded the money in exchange for dropping the charges. However, Mudheredhe cleverly pretended to comply and tipped off actual ZACC officers, leading to the duo’s arrest on September 19.
“We arrested the suspects after a tip-off from Mr. Mudheredhe,” said a ZACC officer. “A search was conducted, and several ZINACO identity cards bearing different names were recovered from the two.”
This incident is part of a larger trend, as over 20 people have been arrested since the beginning of the year for impersonating ZACC officials. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has been working to combat these scams and protect citizens from false officials.
Arrested Suspects:
- Taurai Zingoga (32)
- Dambudzo Mbwana (40)
Charges:
- Impersonating ZACC officers
- Extortion
The case serves as a reminder to verify the identity of officials and report suspicious activities to the authorities.
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