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Adelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
A POLICE officer stationed at Dandanda Police Base in Jotsholo has been arrested for allegedly demanding bribes from members of the community to clear livestock. Augustine Gumbo, 27, demanded $105 from representatives of a community project-Zenzeleni Pan that rears cattle, charging $5 per beast, a court heard.

After being handed the money, Gumbo went on to allegedly forge the signature of a village head whose name is yet to be availed in court, on the stock clearance form.

Gumbo, whose rank was not established, was charged with forgery and criminal abuse of office. He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Binga magistrate Aeline Munamati who was on circuit in Lupane on Monday. He was remanded to January 6 on $100 bail.

Prosecuting, Benjamin Masiya told the court that on December 13, Gumbo was approached by Zenzeleni Pan members who wanted to have their 21 beasts cleared for sale.

“They asked the accused to clear their 21 beasts and the accused demanded $5 per head. On December 15 the same group approached Gumbo and told him they didn’t have any money to offer him and he told them he won’t clear them if they didn’t have the money.

“On December 16 the project members called the accused and gave him $80 to clear the beasts. After three days the accused approached them and demanded the $25 balance,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard that the project members approached Kusile Rural District Council (KRDC) seeking assistance saying the accused was demanding a lot of money to clear their beasts.

KRDC reported the case to the police leading to Gumbo’s arrest. “As detectives were investigating the abuse of office charges they discovered that the accused had forged the signature of a local village head,” Masiya said.