A police officer has been arrested for allegedly violating the lockdown curfew regulations after he travelled from Masvingo to Beitbridge without an exemption letter authorising him to travel.
Mncedisi Ndlovu (36), who is stationed at Masvingo Police Station, was arrested at Lutumba Junction, Beitbridge while enroute to his house in Dulibadzimu suburb at around 10PM.
The country is under strict lockdown which prohibits dusk till dawn movement from 6PM to 6AM.
A source who spoke to CITE on condition of anonymity said Ndlovu was arrested on January 18 by a team of police officers who were manning the roadblock.
The source said Ndlovu had a sick woman aboard whom he was traveling with from Masvingo to Beitbridge.
“A ferret team consisting of ZRP Support Unit, Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services and Central Intelligence Organisation members were at the Junction of Lutumba –Beitbridge roadblock checkpoint enforcing lockdown restriction measures,” said the source.
“During the course of their duty the accused who was driving an unregistered Nissan caravan vehicle white in colour was stopped at the checkpoint, Ndlovu had one sick woman aboard the vehicle. He was coming from Masvingo heading to Beitbridge.”
The source said due process was done by the ferret team on Ndlovu and it was found that he had no authority to be out beyond curfew time.
“Ndlovu, being a police officer, had no permission or other authority whatsoever to leave his district nor was he in possession of an exemption letter to travel during lockdown. On January 20, 2021, the case was referred to CID Beitbridge for further management,” the source said.
“Investigations established that Ndlovu owns a house at number 1801 Dulivadzimu Beitbridge where he was headed to. He had no lawful authority to leave his district nor exemption letter to travel during lockdown.”
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said she had not received the report.
“I cannot confirm the arrest at the moment as it has not yet reached my office. Probably investigations are still underway. You can check tomorrow maybe the report would have been finalised,” she said.
