Prison Sentences Handed Down for Kidnapping of Gokwe Police Officer

Gokwe, Zimbabwe — Four individuals have been sentenced to seven years in prison each following their conviction for the abduction and assault of a police officer during the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) public hearings.

The incident, which took place in Nembudziya, involved the suspects posing as security personnel to lure the officer into a trap.

The convicted men were identified as Isheunesu Benjamin Marima (30), Collin Masawi (44), Wonder Gamba (43), and Edwin Chinongwa (32). According to Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri, spokesperson for the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the group abducted the officer on March 31, 2026, around 10:00 AM.

The victim, a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) assigned to the CAB3 hearings, was approached by Marima, who falsely identified himself as a member of the security services.

Marima requested a private discussion regarding the proceedings, leading the officer outside the venue. Once isolated, the officer was forced into a vehicle—a Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger—where the other three accomplices were waiting.

The group transported the officer to a remote location in Maselukwe, Gokwe North. After subjecting him to a physical assault, the perpetrators abandoned him at the Mutora Business Centre. Subsequent police investigations led to the arrest of the four men and the recovery of the vehicles used in the crime.

The case was heard before Gokwe Regional Magistrate Stanford Mambanje, with prosecution led by Malvern Nzombe. All four defendants were convicted of kidnapping and assault
.

Authorities are still searching for two additional suspects involved in the case:

Erickson Mafuratidze
Mujudha (identified by alias only)

“Anyone with information should contact the ZRP National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, WhatsApp 0712 800 197, or report to the nearest police station.”