Police officers accused of sharing loot with robbers

Three Zimbabwean police officers, Albert Machona (42), Charles Musiiwa (33), and Tanyaradzwa Mhondiwa (30), have been arrested and arraigned before Mutare Magistrates’ Court for allegedly collaborating and sharing loot with an armed robber.

It was alleged that on the evening of February 28, 2024, around 19:40, the accused officers received a distress call from the public in Morningside, Mutare. The report indicated that one of the robbers, Nyasha Foster, had been apprehended by citizens after robbing a complainant of US$60,000 at her residence.

Upon arriving at the scene, the accused officers took Nyasha Foster to the police station. Shockingly, they hatched a plan to misappropriate part of the recovered cash. Instead of treating Foster as a suspect, they falsely classified him as an informant and subsequently released him.

Later, they proceeded to Ireland Private Hospital, where the victim of the robbery was admitted. In a misleading move, they informed her that only US$26,000 had been recovered. Consequently, they handed over this reduced amount to the complainant.

The victim, however, sensed foul play and raised the alarm, leading to the prompt arrest of the accused officers. Following their arrest, they were remanded in custody, awaiting a court appearance scheduled for March 8, 2024, for their bail ruling.

Nyasha Foster has been rearrested on charges related to the robbery. His court appearance is set for March 13, 2024.