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Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
THREE Bulawayo men have each been sentenced to five years imprisonment after they used fake police identification cards to mount illegal road blocks and extort $70 from two motorists.

Zibusiso Sikhosana (23) and Brian Mbewe (27) both of Greenhill and Marvellous Ndlovu (23) of Cowdray Park pleaded guilty to two counts of extortion and impersonating a police officer before Western Commonage Mr Stephen Ndhlovu.

Mr Ndhlovu said the trio had brought the name of the police force into disrepute and deserved to be jailed for a lengthy period.

He said: “Even if the law advises us to be lenient with first offenders, what you did disregards the police force. You have marred the image of the ZRP. You dragged the name of the police force not only in the mud where it can be washed off, but in tar, where it will be permanent.”

“You are therefore each sentenced to five years in prison. One year will be suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years. Another year will be suspended on condition that you restitute the complainants.”

For the State, Ms Sibekithemba Dube said the three were travelling in a Honda Fit along Nketa Drive when they mounted a fake police vehicle check point and stopped motorists.

They allegedly solicited a bribe from Mr Tapiwa Pikirai, a prison officer from Njube suburb, stationed at Khami Remand Prison.

“On November 23, this year at around 7PM, the accused persons where travelling in a black Honda Fit vehicle when they stopped in front of the complainant’s car. Sikhosana and Mbewe waved at the accused person to stop. They produced fake police identity cards and told him that they were plain clothes police officers conducting an operation targeting illegal pirate taxis”, said Ms Dube.

The court heard that the bogus traffic police officers told Mr Pikirai that they were taking his car to the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).
Mbewe allegedly asked Pikirai if he had any money on him, and he produced a $50 note.

“Upon receiving the ‘fine’, they got out of the complainant’s car and told him to drive off’, said the prosecutor.

Mr Pikirai saw the trio at another place soliciting a bribe from a different motorist and then teamed up with him to report them to the police.

On the second count, the trio allegedly extorted $20 from Mr Lawrence Zingwevhu (30) of Nketa 8 suburb. They used the same method of impersonating a police officer.

The total money they raised from the road blocks is $70.

— @andile_Tshuma.