BULAWAYO – A fifth police officer has been arrested for aiding an attempt to smuggle 250 tonnes of lithium to South Africa.
Detective Assistant Inspector, Tawanda Shonhiwa 39, is the latest police officer to be arrested for assisting Bernard Mnangagwa’s illegal activities.
A team of detectives had earlier arrested Mnangagwa at Beitbridge Border Post where they intercepted of his five trucks that were bound for South Africa.
Trouble began when Officer in Charge ZRP Mzilikazi Chief Inspector Maphosa was engaged to provide a three shift guard system at number 6 Cowden Road Steeldale Bulawayo.
This was for purposes for safe guarding Lithium bearing ores which had been transported from Sandawana area, Mberengwa by a company identified as Inline Ventures Private Limited of number 683 Souter Road Southerton Harare.
Maphosa OIC ZRP Mzilikazi is himself facing charged of contravening the Police Act for failing to give proper briefing to his subordinates before assumption of duty.
Be that as it may, police officers Milton Ronald Mathe, 27, Nkatazo Siambizi Mudenda, 34, Sendra Zenda, 29 and Chiedza Mutakiwa, 27 assumed guard duties during the period extending from 13 December 2022 to 28 December 2022 at number 6 Cowden Road, Steeldale, Bulawayo.
During the period between 21 December 2022 to 23 December 2022, Mnangagwa went to number 6 Cowden Road Steeldale, Bulawayo and loaded five truckloads of lithium bearing ores in the presence of the police officers who were on guard duties.
The Lithium bearing ores were destined for export to South Africa.
However, on 28 December 2022, the five trucks were intercepted by police at Beitbridge Border Post and investigations were carried out leading to the arrest of Bernard Mnangagwa on 30 December 2022. The lithium bearing ores were subsequently recovered.
On 31 December 2022, the four police officers were arrested after investigations carried out established that they allowed Bernard Mnangagwa to load lithium bearing ores from the premises.
On 31 December 2022, the four police officers appeared at Bulawayo Magistrates Court on forms 242 before Magistrate Rachel Mukanga and Tanya Kawini prosecuted.
They were all released out of custody on Z$40,000 bail each and were remanded to 31 January 2023.
On 3 January 2023, accused person number five, Detective Assistant Inspector Shonhiwa was arrested for Criminal Abuse of Duty as a Public Officer as defined in Section 174[1][b] “Omits to do anything which it is his duty as Public Officer to do”.
Accused person in his exercise of functions did not book the recovered lithium bearing ores in the Station exhibit book for the purpose of showing favour to Bernard Mnangagwa and disfavour to the State, police said in a memo.
