The ManicaPost
Emmah Chinyamutangira Post Correspondent
THREE officers with the National Anti-Corruption of Zimbabwe (NACZ) have been arraigned before the court on allegations of swindling a woman they accused of smuggling goods into the country. The three suspects Tawanda Tandara (33), Pardon Chitembwe (42) and Farai Kambarami (32) appeared before Mutare magistrate Perseverance Makala facing charges of swindling U$230 and R350 from Confidence Pasipatorwa.
They were remanded to March 6, 2019 and released on $200 bail each.
The three accused persons were also ordered to report every Friday to Mutare Central Police Station.
Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Mr Karombe told the court that on January 8, 2019 Tandara and his team approached Pasipatorwa and her brother Given, who had just arrived from South Africa and offloading groceries at Bigbyte shop in the down town area of Mutare. The accused introduced themselves as
NACZ agents on a mission to curb the smuggling of goods in Mutare.
As they were still offloading groceries from the bus, Chitembwe asked Pasipatorwa to produce declaration forms for the goods she was offloading.
When she produced them and Tandara then demanded to see Given’s passport since he was the one who had brought the goods.
When he was handed over the passport he allegedly came across R350 tucked inside and took it.
The court heard that Tandara instructed them to surrender themselves to Mutare Central Police Station for smuggling goods.
Mr Karombe also told the court that Kambarami drove them to the police in a black Toyota Camry (AET7688).
Before they arrived at the police station Pasipatorwa was asked to produce her national identity card.
She told them she had left it home. The accused persons then drove to Pasipatorwa house to collect it.
When they arrived at Pasipatorwa’s house (7730 Area 16 Dangamvura, Mutare) Tandara allegedly escorted her into her bedroom.
He allegedly took US$230 as he searched for other smuggled goods in the house.
He accused the complainant of illegally dealing in foreign currency.
The accused allegedly disappeared with their car from Pasipatorwa’s house with the money without her consent.
An unknown lady allegedly managed to take their vehicle registration number and reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspects this Tuesday.
