In a disturbing incident, four police officers are accused of stealing US$57,000 in cash and 2kgs of pure gold from a driver who was unconscious following a car accident. The theft reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning near the Selous roundabout along the Harare-Bulawayo highway.
Nobizita Gatawa, who was driving a Toyota Max, was involved in a serious traffic accident at the Selous roundabout. At the time of the crash, Gatawa was carrying US$80,000 in cash and approximately 2.16 kilograms of pure gold inside his vehicle. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the accident, he was left unconscious, leaving him vulnerable to theft.
Police Officers Involved in the Alleged Theft
The four officers—Rudo Tafa, Daniel Mujabuki, and Musekiwa Karimanzira from ZRP Saruwe, along with Thomson Brian Chinyani from ZRP Norton Traffic—allegedly took advantage of the situation. They appeared in court before Norton magistrate Christine Nyandoro on Tuesday and were each granted bail set at US$150.
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The Events Leading to the Discovery of the Crime
The State, represented by prosecutor Thomas Chanakira, outlined the sequence of events. According to the prosecution, Tafa, Mujabuki, and Karimanzira were on a morning raid deployment using a ZRP Mahindra vehicle when a passing motorist informed them about the accident near the Selous roundabout.
Upon receiving this information, the three officers returned to their base to pick up their colleague, Thomson Chinyani, who is stationed at ZRP Norton Traffic Base. Together, they proceeded to the accident scene, where they allegedly stole US$57,000 and two kilograms of gold from the unconscious driver.
Partial Return of the Stolen Money Raises Suspicions
The theft came to light when the accused officers handed over US$22,500 to Gatawa’s father, who had come to check on his son’s condition. This partial return of the money raised suspicions, prompting further investigations that revealed the missing cash and gold.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The four officers were arrested and brought before the court on charges of theft. Although they were released on bail, the case has left a trail of questions regarding trust and integrity within the police force. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to recover the remaining stolen money and gold.
