Bulawayo Cop Faces Charges After Convincing Kombi Driver to Pay Bribe Instead of Full Fine

A police officer from Bulawayo is in trouble after she coerced a kombi driver to pay her a bribe instead of the full fine.

A police officer in Bulawayo faces serious charges after allegedly coercing a kombi driver into paying her a bribe instead of the full fine amount.

Memory Sayi, 38, recently appeared before the Tredgold Magistrates’ Court on charges of criminal abuse of office.

The incident occurred on May 20, 2024, when Sayi and a colleague encountered Donald Muchemi, a kombi driver who had dropped passengers at an undesignated spot. The two officers arrested Muchemi and escorted him to the Bulawayo Traffic Office.

Sayi was then directed to accompany the kombi driver to the Fines Office to pay his fine. However, she reportedly informed Muchemi that the fine would be US$160 at the office and instead pressured him into paying her US$30 directly.

While some drivers may have been grateful to get off with a bribe, Muchemi later informed the owner of the commuter omnibus about the incident, and they filed a police report. When Sayi learned about the complaint, she allegedly tried to cover her tracks by issuing a receipt for the US$30 and forging Muchemi’s signature. She was granted US$100 bail after appearing in court.

In a separate case, Godfrey Nyamufarira, 52, was brought before the Karoi Magistrates’ Court on charges of illegally dealing in dangerous drugs.

On August 14, 2024, the police received a tip-off that Nyamufarira had dagga at his homestead in Nyamufarira Village, Chief Dandawa, Batanai, Magunje. Acting on the information, officers searched the property and discovered 32.4 kg of dagga. Nyamufarira was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison, with one year suspended, leaving him to serve five years behind bars.

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