Thieving police officer in trouble
By Vincent Gono in Zvishavane
A senior police officer based in Zvishavane was arrested for stealing and converting to his personal use $724 meant for prisoners’ rations and police stationery.
The accused police officer, Philip Makamure (40) — an assistant inspector — whose given residential address is Chademana Flats, Mkoba, in Gweru, was responsible for receiving, keeping and disbursing of State funds in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Zvishavane.
He appeared before Zvishavane magistrate, Mr Story Rushambwa, facing charges of theft of trust property as defined in section 132 (2) (d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
Judgment on the case will be delivered on 13 March.
The State case as presented by the area public prosecutor, Mr Talent Tadenyika, is that in the period extending from 31 August to 27 September last year at Zvishavane district headquarters, Makamure received from Never Makhaya cash in two batches of $664 and $60 respectively.
Mr Tadenyika told the court that on both occasions, the accused person signed that he had received the cash in Never Makhaya’s police note book. The cash, the court was told, was meant for the prisoners’ rations as well as acquisition of police stationery.
It was the State case that the offence came to light sometime in November last year when the Police Officer Commanding Zvishavane District (In-Charge of Administration) Chief Superintendent Robert Mugazambi made some inquiries about the state of the funds when they wanted to purchase prisoners’ rations and stationery for the police stations.
The State told the court that it was revealed then that the accused no longer had the money despite confirming receiving and signing for it.
The court was further told that upon being questioned, Makamure said the money went missing from where he was keeping it but could not say why he did not report the case before it was discovered.
It was, however, later discovered that he had taken and converted the money to his own use and he is said to have offered to pay back the money.
He only paid $100.
A report was later made to the police leading to the arrest of the accused. The police note book which the accused signed confirming receipt of the funds was also available as an exhibit. Makamure was represented by his lawyer, Mr Leopold Mudisi, of Chitevere, Chidewanyika and Partners Legal Practitioners.
