A 43-year-old Bulawayo man has been jailed for six months after he was convicted of impersonating a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer to serve court documents in a family property dispute in Filabusi.
Nhamo Karuru, of Cowdray Park, was recently convicted by Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Isheunesu Matova on one count of impersonating a police officer.
The second count he was facing, which involved a complainant based in the United Kingdom, was withdrawn before Karuru pleaded after the witness failed to travel to Zimbabwe for the court proceedings.
Magistrate Matova sentenced Karuru to 12 months in prison, but suspended six for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
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Karuru was represented by Mary Nyika of Task Vhiki Attorneys, who urged the court to impose a lenient sentence, describing her client as a first-time offender.
“Your worship, the accused persons is a first-time offender with no previous criminal record. He did not benefit from the offence. He is a police constabulary member who unfortunately got involved in a crime,” Nyika pleaded on behalf of Karuru.
However, prosecutor Arnold Mudekunye argued that the offence undermined public confidence in the police and warranted a custodial sentence.
“The accused person’s unbecoming behaviour tainted the reputation of the police and other government institutions. It was a sign of disrespect to the entire police force,” Mudekunye told the court.
The court heard that in January 2026, Karuru travelled to Montrose Farm 3 in Filabusi wearing a police uniform and introduced himself to Andrea Mpofu as Sergeant Nyoni from ZRP Tredgold Court.
He then served Mpofu with summons relating to a protection order, case number PRO 502/25.
Mpofu later reported the incident to the police, leading to Karuru’s arrest.
The offence arose from a long-running dispute over a family homestead at a cooperative farm in Filabusi following the death of the family matriarch.
According to court papers, disagreements emerged after one of the beneficiaries, Freedom Mpofu, allegedly sought to register the property in his name despite claims by other family members that it should be shared equally among the deceased’s six children.
The dispute later escalated, resulting in protection order proceedings and separate criminal allegations after Mpofu allegedly set fire to the family homestead.
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