Patrick Chitumba patrick.chitumba@chronicle.co.zw
WHEN a murder suspect went into hiding in a thicket in Gokwe, Constable David Pikurayi did not wait for reinforcements.
He walked about eight kilometres into the bush alone, tracked down the fugitive and arrested him.
The act of courage and determination earned him recognition at the Midlands Province 2025
Quarterly and Annual Awards for Excellence in Policing, where 44 officers were honoured for
outstanding performance in crime prevention, investigation and detection.
For Const Pikurayi, the job was far from over when he received information about the murder of Lucia Mpofu, who was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband on January 29, 2025, in Village
Chingirande under Chief Chireya.
While on night duty at the District Communication Centre, he processed the report before retrieving cellphone numbers of contacts in surrounding villages and alerting them to help locate the suspect.
His persistence paid off the following day when one of the contacts tipped him off that the suspect was hiding in thick bushes in Village Naison, about eight kilometres away.
Although he was off duty, Const Pikurayi immediately set out on foot. After failing to mobilise villagers to accompany him, he proceeded alone, tracked down the suspect, subdued him and arrested him.
The suspect was handed over to ZRP Gokwe, resulting in the clearance of the murder case.
His determination was among the outstanding policing efforts celebrated at the awards ceremony, which recognised officers whose work had contributed to the investigation and detection of serious crimes.
Another remarkable case involved Assistant Inspector Charity Ncube of ZRP Gokwe, who tracked down a man accused of raping three minor sisters, including two aged six and seven.
The girls’ mother reported the abuse on April 1, 2025, and medical examinations were conducted.
Asst Insp Ncube pursued leads indicating that the accused had relocated to another village. When she eventually located him, he attempted to flee, but she gave chase with assistance from members of the public and arrested him.
The accused was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 90 years in prison.
In Gweru, Sergeant Kizito Mahachi demonstrated how meticulous investigations and attention to detail can expose elaborate criminal schemes.
In one case, he investigated a married couple who had allegedly used fake land offer letters to fraudulently claim ownership of a piece of land in the Gweru Rural policing area.
The investigation involved examining a chain of documents, with the Ministry of Lands confirming that the documents presented by the couple in court were not authentic.
The couple were convicted of fraud and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.
Sgt Mahachi also pursued a stock thief who had devised a scheme to steal and fraudulently clear stray livestock in his neighbourhood. The suspect was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison.
His investigations further exposed a cattle-theft syndicate that slaughtered stolen beasts in grazing areas before selling the meat to unsuspecting residents in Mkoba 13, Gweru.
Acting on intelligence, he followed up information about a motorist who had been hired from Zvishavane to collect groceries in Gweru but was instead diverted to Lalapanzi, where cattle were stolen and slaughtered.
The meat was subsequently transported to Mkoba 13 for sale.
The operation led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of 46 kilogrammes of beef, a cattle head and a hide.
Following a full trial at Gweru Magistrates Court, all three were convicted and each sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
In another case, Sgt Mahachi’s investigative skills helped expose a stock-theft operation following the theft of three cattle in Lower Gweru, under Chief Bunina, on January 18, 2025.
A spoor trail led investigators to a homestead where a fresh hide from one of the stolen beasts was recovered. Further investigations resulted in the arrest of Doubt Baloyi, who was linked to the theft.
These cases were among the efforts that earned 44 police officers recognition at the awards ceremony, where Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube presented prizes that included gas cylinders, microwaves and refrigerators.
Minister Ncube also pledged US$2 200 towards the officers’ recognition, promising US$50 to each of the 44 recipients.
The awards covered officers from Kwekwe, Gokwe, Gweru Urban, Gweru Rural and Zvishavane, recognising their contribution to tackling serious crimes, including murder, armed robbery, rape, unlawful entry, theft and stock theft.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Ncube said the awards celebrated exceptional dedication, bravery, competence and professionalism in policing.
“On behalf of the Midlands Province and indeed on my own behalf, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 44 Police Officers from Kwekwe, Gokwe, Gweru Urban, Gweru Rural and Zvishavane who are being honoured today,” he said.
He commended the Midlands Provincial Police Command, district commanders and officers-in-charge of stations for reducing smuggling, murder and armed robbery cases, dismantling drug bases and bringing notorious criminals to book.
Minister Ncube urged officers to build on their achievements by strengthening crime prevention, scene management, intelligence gathering and evidence-based investigations.
“I congratulate the 44 award-winning recipients and urge you to raise the bar in crime prevention, scene management, information gathering, evidence-based investigation and detection that leads to successful prosecution outcomes.
“I also implore you to shun corruption and continue serving the public with honesty, integrity, discipline and patriotism,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Matambo, responsible for Crime and Operations in Midlands Province, said the awards provided an opportunity to celebrate officers who had distinguished themselves during a demanding year.
“We are gathered to simply say ‘Well done’ to our own. The year 2025 was demanding. Midlands is a vast and complex province. We confronted heinous crimes that instil fear in our communities,” he said.
He said the officers had excelled in preventing and investigating serious offences, adding that policing was a collective responsibility.
“Policing is not a one-man job. Without you, we achieve nothing,” said Commissioner Matambo.
He also paid tribute to Cembee Group of Companies and River Valley Properties for sponsoring the awards, saying their support demonstrated the private sector’s appreciation of effective policing.
“For the award-winning officers, the recognition was more than a collection of prizes. It was an acknowledgement of the long hours, difficult decisions, painstaking investigations and personal risks involved in ensuring that those who break the law are brought before the courts,” said Commissioner Matambo.
COMMENTS