A police constable named Brighton Gwadzoka testified in Masvingo Regional Court during a bail hearing for two individuals facing a US$1 million fraud case. Here are the key points from his statement:
- What happened: Constable Gwadzoka alleged that senior police officers in Masvingo attempted to obstruct the investigation into a fraud case involving two land barons, Ephraim Gwanongodza and Dunira Godhati. He claimed that the Harare CID had to be brought in to handle the case because of these issues.
- Initial refusal to investigate: The case was first reported to an unnamed officer-in-charge at Chikato, who allegedly refused to investigate it, calling the allegations “baseless.”
- CID Law and Order: After being transferred, the file went to the CID Law and Order, where the complainant, Charles Junior Mashinge, was reportedly met with rudeness and abuse when he tried to get an update on the case.
- Current status: The two land barons, Gwanongodza and Godhati, are currently in custody.
- Broader context: The article mentions other instances of alleged unprofessionalism by the Masvingo police, including the refusal to open a docket for a case reported by Job Sikhala and a damning report from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission about Gutu Police. The article also notes that an investigation into Superintendent Elizabeth Chipfakacha on corruption allegations is ongoing.
