The two are Tinashe Zvinowanda Gono, 24, a police officer stationed at Gwanda rural police station and Takura Mataruse, 28, a CIO officer. They are set to appear at the Gwanda magistrates’ courts on the 7th of June this year to face two counts of extortion and criminal insult charges.
According to the court papers, on the 20th of May this year the two entered Growly Guest House with food that had been bought outside the lodge. They were approached by Margret Nyathi who asked them to leave the premises.
“The two accused persons started insulting the complainant in Shona saying “uri hure” which means “you are a prostitute”. The insult “impaired the dignity of Margret Nyathi,” the state alleges.
While outside the lodge, Gono approached Takunda Dovi, a vendor outside the Gwanda passport office, and confiscated his wares threatening to arrest him for vending.
“Gono ordered Mataruse to collect $2, 50 from Dovi for illegal vending. Dovi refused to give them any money and Gono went away with the wares threatening to burn them. Dovi, fearing that his wares would be burned, gave them $2, 50,” court papers say.
Later, the two security officers approached Alifheli Mudau outside the Gwanda passport office and, using the same trick, demanded $10 from him.
“Mudau, fearing that his wares would be burned, gave the two accused persons $2, 50. His wares were then returned to him some of which were partly burnt,” reads the state outline of the case.
Mudau handed the partly burnt wares to the police and will be produced in court as evidence against the duo.
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