A police officer, identified as Prosper Chimbumu (33), appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei on a theft charge after allegedly stealing US$25,000 from security guards who had recovered money dropped by fleeing armed robbers.
Chimbumu, who had been evading arrest, was apprehended after his accomplices, Since Asima (38), Perseverance Chisango (32), Weston Muzoriwa (37), and Fredrick Moyo (33), were granted bail of US$300 the previous week. The accused is a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and is stationed at Harare Central Police Station.
State prosecutor Anesu Chirenje informed the court that on February 25, two security officers had recovered US$53,000 that was dropped by armed robbers during a heist amounting to US$720,000 at Quest Finance Services. However, the two officers were subsequently arrested and pleaded guilty to the charges. Magistrate Ethel Chichera handed them a two-year prison sentence.
On March 6, 2024, the police received information alleging that the two officers from the reaction team had taken some of the cash dropped by the fleeing robbers for themselves. According to court documents, the police officers confronted one of the security officers, Cornelius Chimukange, at his residence and subjected him to severe assault. As a result, Chimukange confessed and surrendered US$15,000.
The court heard that the accused officers then went to the residence of the other security officer, Nesbert Kachungwe, where they interrogated his wife. She eventually handed over US$10,500. After establishing that US$10 500 was all that was left, the police officers released Kachungwe and his wife and they went away.
Subsequently, it is alleged that the accused officers shared the money among themselves. On March 12, detectives from CID Homicide Harare received a tip-off regarding the illicit collection of cash from the reaction officers. The total amount involved in the theft was US$25,500, and no funds were recovered.
