CORRUPTION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS: CIO MEMBERS ARRESTED FOR US$1000 SHAKEDOWN

Four members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) have been arrested for allegedly extorting US$1,000 from a local businessman, Brian Dziwandi.

Abuse of Authority

The four accused individuals, Trust Madzunzu, Munyaradzi Gondo, Joshua Zingwe, and Innocent Chigona were arraigned before Harare regional magistrate Donald Ndirowei. They allegedly misrepresented themselves as CIO agents and claimed to be on an operation to curb fuel smuggling.

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Extortion Scheme

According to the prosecutor, Lancelot Mutsokoti, on May 21, Madzunzu contacted Dziwandi, the director of Dopsa Energy (Pvt) Ltd, claiming to be an agent for Kamativi Mine and wanting to partner with him in the diesel supply business.

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The following day, Dziwandi met with Gondo in a Harare hotel parking lot, where the accused individuals allegedly told him they were from the President’s Department and demanded US$10,000 on behalf of their “boss.”

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Entrapment and Arrest

Fearing for his safety, Dziwandi promised to raise the money, and the accused persons gave him a deadline of 4 pm the same day. The four allegedly kept calling Dziwandi, pressuring him to pay the extortion money. Dziwandi reported the case to the police, and on May 23, 2024, a trap was set, leading to the arrest of the four suspects when they went to receive US$1,000 as part payment.

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Legal Consequences

The four accused individuals were released on US$100 bail each and have been remanded to June 10 for a possible trial date. They were represented by Liberty Gono and Dumisani Mtombeni.

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