A top cop attached to the Minerals Flora and Fauna unit based in Mashonaland Central has been fingered in a scandal where he is alleged to be confiscating gold from artisanal miners in Bindura and surrounding areas for personal benefit.
The top cop identified as Albert Zhou is alleged to be working in cahoots with some of gold miners and giving them “protection.”
“Zhou is abusing his office and looting gold. He is in a syndicate with his junior officers and they have terrorised and harassed civilians,” revealed a source close to the goings on.
Illegal mining activities by his syndicate are alleged to be damaging a railway line in the province.
It is further alleged that he also encroached into a private property owned by one tourism operator identified only as Zuzude who runs a recreation facility called Kitsi.
Zuzude has taken legal action and the matter is currently before the courts.
In documents seen by Zim Morning Post, Zuzude filed a report citing harassment and denial of entry to lawfully owned property.
Efforts to contact Zhou proved fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable and he did not respond to messages sent to his phone, while Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyati’s phone went unanswered at the time of writing.
Lately some rogue police officers have been implicated in gold dealing in mining towns.
In turn, the ZRP has condemned such behaviour and vowed to arrest rogue elements who are bringing the name of the police force into disrepute.
