Andrew Kapirima, a Zimbabwean policeman stationed at ZRP Southerton has appeared in court accused of criminal abuse of duty as an officer after he was arrested by his colleagues following a complaint.

According to H-Metro, Andrew Kapirima is expected back in court on May 23 on routine remand and was granted $50 bail.

Kapirima is alleged to have been part of a group of officers manning a roadblock who are in the habit of making motorists pay $2 bribes in order for them to have smooth passage on the road.

On April 22 at around 6:30 am, officers at PGHQ internal investigation received a complaint from one Clarisa Muzondo that there were officers deployed along Willowvale Road opposite Southerton Traffic entrance gate who were asking for $2 from each commuter omnibus which passed by their roadblock.

Acting on this information, officers at PGHQ applied for a trap authority using 3×$2 bond notes which they noted down the serial numbers.

Superintendent Makala of PGHQ internal investigations is reported to have authorised the trap money.

A team comprising of Assistant Inspector Muradya, Sergeant Mashaire and Constable Pafungadurwe went to Glen View 3 with the trap money.

They met with one Talent Kapfumo who is reported to be Clarisa’s driver and drives a commuter omnibus.

He was given one of the $2 bond notes which was part of the trap money and escorted him to the road block site.

On arrival at the scene, Kapfumo was signalled to stop by one of the police officers who were manning the roadblock and he complied.

He is then reported to have disembarked from the vehicle and produced a ticket which he had been issued by other police officers.

Kapirima is then alleged to have told him that he should give them some money so that he could proceed.

Kapfumo then handed Kapirima the $2 bond note which was trap money and he was told to proceed without being given a ticket.

It is the State’s case that all these events took place in full view of the trap team which was monitoring the situation and immediately arrested Kapirima.

Upon his arrest, the officers immediately recovered the trap money from him.

Harare magistrate Barbara Chimboza presided over the matter whilst Sebastian Mutizirwa prosecuted.