A Bulawayo man has appeared in court accused of posing as a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer and wearing a police uniform to serve court documents linked to a family property dispute.
Nhamo Karuru, 43, of Cowdray Park, appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Isheunesu Matova facing two counts of impersonating a police officer.
He was remanded in custody to 17 July for trial.
Prosecutor Mabusiso Moyo told the court that on an unknown date in January 2026, Karuru allegedly went to Montrose Farm 3 in Filabusi dressed in a police uniform.
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The State alleges that he introduced himself to 29-year-old Andrea Mpofu as “Sergeant Nyoni” from ZRP Tredgold Court before serving him with summons relating to a protection order under case number PRO 502/25.
The court heard that Karuru allegedly committed a similar offence on 2 February 2026 at Number 67 Dlamini Township in Matsheumhlope, Bulawayo, where he again posed as a police officer.
According to the prosecution, Mpofu reported the matter to police, leading to Karuru’s arrest.
Karuru is charged under Section 179(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], which prohibits impersonating a police officer for the purpose of obtaining an advantage for oneself or another person.
The allegations arise from an ongoing dispute over ownership of a family homestead at Montrose 3 Zisizen Cooperative Farm in Filabusi.
According to court proceedings, the property, which belonged to the family’s late matriarch, is contested by her six children. Prosecutors said one of the beneficiaries, Freedom Mpofu, allegedly sought to register the property in his name, prompting a dispute within the family.
The State further alleges that Freedom Mpofu later obtained a protection order against his son, Andrea Mpofu, before allegedly setting fire to the family homestead.
Freedom Mpofu is separately facing charges of malicious damage to property before the Filabusi Magistrates’ Court.
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