Three men were arrested on Saturday night at a roadblock in Mvuma (Midlands Province) for smuggling and attempting to bribe police officers in order to release a haulage truck suspected to be carrying smuggled goods, the police have said.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Midlands Provincial Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the arrest of Christian Masunga, Edmore Mutambisi and Maxwell Mutambisi on charges of smuggling, attempted bribery, and obstruction of justice.
“In Mvuma we have arrested three men for smuggling of goods, attempting to bribe and defeating the course of justice. Their heavy truck was intercepted at a roadblock while carrying suspected smuggled goods from South Africa on 9 April 2022, at about 1050 hours.
The truck was towing two trailers heading to Harare. While the driver of the truck, Christian Masunga, a man aged 40 of Tshovani in Chiredzi was being interviewed, one Edmore Mutambisi aged 37 of Warren Park in Harare, came driving a Toyota Hilux from Harare and offered R2000 to a police officer for free passage of the truck.”
According to Mahoko, the police officer arrested Mutambisi for offering a bribe.
He added: “Upon seeing their counterpart being arrested, Maxwell Mutambisi, who was in Edmore`s vehicle, came and started pushing away police officers who were handcuffing Edmore. The truck driver also joined in the scuffle but they were all subdued and arrested for attempting to defeat the course of justice.”
The three men were taken to Mvuma Police Station to appear in court.