Top cop bailed
ZIMBABWE Republic Police Commissioner in charge of Matabeleland North Province Erasmus Makodza was yesterday brought to court charged for criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
Makodza was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje who remanded him on $10 000 bail.
Allegations are that in early 2019, Makodza, who was the officer commanding Mashonaland East, hatched a plan to corruptly benefit from projects that were being undertaken by Mashonaland East Province projects unit at Lendy Farm in Marondera.
Lendy Farm is owned by the ZRP Mash East province.
The State alleges that pursuant to the pla,n Makodza imposed Maonei Chapfudza as a private investor ready to invest at the farm in the areas of horticulture, poultry and piggery to Stephen Zengeya who was Assistant Commissioner responsible for Administration.
Makodza reportedly made the imposition knowing very well that Chapfudza was not a private investor but he was in a relationship with her and was the mother of his child born in 2017.
In a bid to cover up, Makodza allowed the process of engaging Chapfudza to go through his subordinates who corruptly cleared her but investigations established the criminal abuse of duty.
Makodza was released on $10 000 bail and was ordered not to interfere with witnesses, to report once a month at his nearest police station and to return to court on March 2.
Netsai Mushayabasa appeared for the State.