Crimes and Courts
MUTARE – In a significant crackdown on corruption, two police officers and a public prosecutor stationed in Mutasa district were arrested for their involvement in a botched bribery attempt related to the release of a seized truck.
The trio appeared in court on charges of criminal abuse of office and were granted bail on Monday.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the arrested individuals—Sencia Masase, Constable Liberty Tivakudze, and prosecutor Shepherd Chavarika—were each granted US$100 bail by the Mutare Magistrates’ Court.
The charges stem from an incident in March 2025 when a truck was impounded at a roadblock in Marara on suspicion of carrying smuggled goods from Mozambique. Masase, the investigating officer in the case, was accused of detaining the owner of the suspected contraband for two days at Mutasa Police Station.
On April 3, Constable Tivakudze allegedly contacted the truck owner, instructing her to meet him and Chavarika in Hauna.
“They demanded a US$500 bribe for the truck’s release,” the complainant recounted.
“Chavarika claimed he was handling the prosecution and pressured me to pay.”
Feeling the pressure, the complainant managed to pay US$170 initially and later sent an additional US$100 via EcoCash after receiving further instructions from Chavarika, who assured her that the vehicle would be released by April 9.
However, the situation took a turn when the truck was transferred to the Forbes Border ZIMRA offices.
“Chavarika then demanded another US$300 to facilitate my acquittal and the release of the vehicle,” the complainant explained.
Suspecting foul play, the complainant reported the incident to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, which initiated a sting operation. The three accused were arrested in Chavarika’s office, where US$200 in cash was recovered.
“This case highlights our ongoing commitment to tackling corruption within the justice and law enforcement sectors,” a spokesperson from the NPAZ stated.
“Such actions undermine public trust and will not be tolerated.”
The arrests serve as a reminder of the serious consequences of corruption and the need for transparency and accountability among public officials in Zimbabwe.
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