HARARE – Matabeleland North commanding police officer Erasmus Makodza was released on ZW$10,000 bail by a Harare magistrate on Monday following his weekend arrest.
The top provincial cop was taken into custody on Sunday for allegedly allowing his girlfriend to run private businesses on a police farm since 2019 without paying a dime into police funds.
Makodza was detained by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Sunday and charged with criminal abuse of office.
Prosecutors say he committed the crime while commanding Mashonaland East province in 2019 when – purporting to represent the police – Makodza signed a deal with his girlfriend, Mawonei Chapfudza, whom he projected as a private investor and authorized her to run projects at Lendy Farm in Marondera.
Chapfudza used the police farm for her personal businesses without remitting anything in terms of that agreement.
Freeing Makodza, magistrate Stanford Mambanje said: “With state’s consent bail is granted. The accused is ordered to deposit $10 000 bail with the clerk of court.”
He was ordered to reside at his given address, not to interfere with witnesses, and to report once every week at his nearest police station.
Appearing for the State, Netsai Mushayabasa did not oppose bail.
Makodza will be back in court on March 3.
