ZACC, ZRP arrest SARACO officer as anti-corruption...

ZACC, ZRP arrest SARACO officer as anti-corruption bodies take each other on

Munyaradzi Mashiri – Correspondent

In what could be a case of law security officers going after each other, an official of the Southern Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Organisation has appeared in court facing charges of abuse of duty after allegedly extorting US$1,200 from a woman seeking help in a land dispute.

This comes a few weeks after the dramatic arrest of nine police officers at a Mutare road checkpoint over allegations of extortion. SARACO officers arrested the cops after tense standoff involving drawn firearms.

9 dirty cops arrested after armed standoff with SA...

Edmond Nzombe, 50, of Kuwadzana 3, appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

The State, led by prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu, told the court that in October 2024, Nzombe approached the complainant at her office, claiming he had been referred by a National Prosecuting Authority official named Kasema.

Posing as a police officer based at Harare Central and a senior member of SARACO, Nzombe allegedly claimed he could assist the woman in reclaiming residential stands that had been seized by a previous seller.

He further alleged that he would coordinate efforts with Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officials.

Nzombe later returned to the complainant with a man he introduced as "Ushe", a purported ZACC official. Ushe reportedly recorded a statement and promised to provide a case reference number.

Nzombe then allegedly demanded US$5,000, claiming the money was required by ZACC officials, including one Musokeri based in Chinhoyi, to process the case. The complainant gave him US$1,000, which he said would be handed over to investigators.

However, no case reference or progress was ever provided, and Nzombe continued to demand additional money.

Suspicious, the complainant reported the matter to ZACC and was referred to the Criminal Investigations Department’s Police Anti-Corruption Unit.

On May 19, a trap was set using marked US$200 cash.

The next day, Nzombe met the complainant near the ZACC offices on Herbert Chitepo Avenue and received the money. He was arrested shortly afterward at Puma Service Station along Bulawayo Road, near the Whitecliff turn-off. A search recovered the trap money on his person.

Nzombe was remanded in custody pending further proceedings.

Members of the public have said that it is important for law enforcement agencies to clean up their own behaviour first in order to effectively fight corruption.