KEY POINTS
- Officer accused of stealing police patrol truck.
- Ford Ranger reportedly taken from police HQ.
- Furthermore, roadblocks set up across Mashonaland Central.
Police in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland Central province are searching for one of their own after an assistant inspector allegedly disappeared with a marked patrol vehicle.
The officer, named as Assistant Inspector Mandizvidza, is accused of taking a Ford Ranger with police markings from Police General Headquarters in Harare before driving north toward Mashonaland Central.
Hunt for the stolen patrol truck
An internal memo dated Aug. 13 and circulated to police stations in Mashonaland East called for an immediate search. Commanders further instructed officers to mount roadblocks and patrols to intercept the vehicle and detain the suspect for the Criminal Investigations Department in Bindura.
Stolen from police headquarters
In addition, the memo, signed by the Mazowe district police chief, identified the stolen patrol truck as a ZRP Ford Ranger with registration 033 and police colours. Therefore, it stated the truck was “stolen at PGHQ by A/Insp Mandizvidza” and believed to be somewhere in the province.
Details also remain unclear
Furthermore, authorities have not disclosed how the mid-ranking officer allegedly managed to take the vehicle from the headquarters or what prompted the act. Finally the investigation remains underway.
