Glendale man gets 7 months for impersonating CIO Officer

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A 42-year-old man from Glendale, Mazowe, was sentenced by the Karoi Magistrates’ Court for impersonating a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative. The man, whose name is withheld to protect his identity, was ordered to pay a fine of USD300, with failure to pay resulting in 3 months imprisonment.

Case Details:

On December 6, 2023, the accused arrived at the Chirundu border post driving a South African-registered Toyota Hilux. He approached a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) revenue supervisor seeking to renew a Temporary Import Permit (TIP). The ZIMRA official noticed that the TIP was not in the accused’s name, which is a legal requirement. When questioned, the man falsely claimed to be an undercover CIO officer conducting an investigation on politicians.

A report was filed, leading to the man’s arrest after it was confirmed he was not a public officer.

Sentence:

The accused was sentenced to 7 months imprisonment, with 3 months suspended on condition of paying the USD300 fine. The remaining 4 months were suspended for five years.

Source: National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)