A government official and a police officer deployed at Beitbridge Border Post were arrested on Christmas Day for demanding and collecting bribes from returning citizens and visitors entering the country from South Africa.
The arrests were effected by a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) crack team in a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) loss control officers.
The two were identified as Tafadzwa Musakanya, a supervisor at the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Beitbridge Border Post and Progress Laiza Tabarwa, a police officer.
They are being charged with criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
Two other police officers, constables Chokera and Msipa, who were also part of the scam are on the run.
The arrests were confirmed by ZACC spokesperson John Makamure who revealed that the arrest of the two followed a tip-off by the public. Said Makamure:
When Zacc pounced on the two and searched them, Musakanya was found with R1 170 and US$20 while Tabarwa was found in possession of R550.
When constables Chokera and Msipa saw Musakanya and Tabarwa being searched and arrested by our officers they ran away and went to an unknown destination.
Comm Makamure said the two were in police custody assisting with investigations.