15 cops, soldiers flee ZACC officials at roadblock

Ellen Mlambo 

Two Nations Reporter

BEITBRIDGE –  There was drama at Chicago Roadblock just outside Beitbridge yesterday when 15 Police officers, soldiers and CIOs realised that they had been trapped by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission while receiving bribes and fled in all directions.

The officers and soldiers had just received lump sum of R2 000 marked notes from a Sable Class crew to allow the bus to pass without getting any tickets.

This happened at the shift changeover time at 6am. The ZACC officials made a big haul; they arrested officers who were just starting duty for receiving money from Sable Bus while those who were going off duty were found sharing money from a paper bag that was full of Rands and US$ notes which they had collected throughout the night, said a reliable source.

This happens a few weeks after another 17 Police officers and soldiers were arrested at a roadblock in Beitbridge along Bulawayo Road.

Efforts by Two Nations to get a comment from Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi were futile.

The suspects are in detention and will appear in court on Monday.

Two Nations is reliably informed that a Sable Class cross border bus arrived at Chicago and the bus crew handed the cops R1 800 which was R200 short of the agreed daily bribe of R2 000.

The cops argued threateningly over the remaining R200 and they were called into the bus to collect it. It was just as they were leaving the bus that they realised that they had entered a trap and they fled in all directions but the ZACC officers warned them and told them to come back.

They were arrested and taken Beitbridge Central Police Stations where dockets were opened.

Two Nations understand that the trap was set after Sable Class Bus director complained to ZAAC in Harare that he was tired of paying bribes to the Police.

Ironically the arrested officers were drawn from Harare and other parts of the country after Police in Beitbridge was withdrawn from roadblocks because of alleged corruption. They are on an operation called No to cross border crime which was launched in 2021.