By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is allegedly being accused of refusing to pay back US$200.00 he owes to a man arrested for drug peddling, Luckmore Mapfumo.
Sources say Detective Tindikai Mandidewa borrowed from Mapfumo who was in detention after arresting him for dealing in dangerous drugs.
Mapfumo was found with two stubs of mbanje and was fined US$30.00.
Mapfumo told TellZim News that he suspected that the detective was taking advantage of having arrested him saying all efforts to recover his cash were futile and he is no longer answering his calls.
“I was arrested by Mandidewa and his colleagues after they had found me with two stubs of mbanje. Mandidewa, in his personal capacity then borrowed me US$200.00 after he said he had encountered a problem which needed money urgently.
“I was still at their offices when he borrowed me US$200.00. He later went to my shop and borrowed another US$100.00 making it US$300.00. Of the US$300.00 he borrowed, he only paid US$75.00 and is no longer answering my calls. I now think he is taking advantage that he once arrested me for dealing with cannabis and the money he owes me now acts as a protection fee,” said Mapfumo.
Contacted for comment, Mandidewa acknowledged having borrowed money from Mapfumo but said it was only US$100 and he had already paid US$75, saying what Mapfumo was saying was just meant to discredit and tarnish his name.
“Mapfumo is my friend. Yes, we arrested him after he was found with two stubs of cannabis. I borrowed US$100 from him, not the US$300 he is claiming and I have so far paid back US$75. It is just a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing my image,” said Mandidewa.
A lot of known drug dealers in Chiredzi are walking scot-free and are allegedly paying the so-called ‘protection fees’ to several police officers.
