Harare Cop Arrested for Aiding Illegal Rank Wars

Police Officer Charged Over Illegal Transport Rank Violence

January 28, 2025
Re arrested 1

Harare law enforcement member accused of joining rank marshal dispute faces charges of resisting arrest and abuse of duty.

A 34-year-old Harare police officer appeared in court Saturday charged with resisting arrest and abuse of duty after allegedly participating in violence over control of an illegal minibus taxi rank in the city center.

Tonderai Manyika was granted US$50 bail by Harare Provincial Magistrate Apollonia Marutya. He will return to court on February 20 for further proceedings.

Prosecutor Tinotenda Masimba told the court that Manyika was hired to intimidate rank marshals during a January 23 dispute between two men identified as Dhana and Frank at the corner of Fidel Castro Road and Mbuya Nehanda Street.

Police responded to a tip-off about the violence, with Officer Lan Murare leading the response team. They found Manyika and others attempting to flee the scene.

The accused was apprehended at a nearby bar where he allegedly assaulted Officer Murare while resisting arrest. Prosecutors claim his actions were part of an ongoing pattern of unlawful involvement in rank disputes.

The case has highlighted persistent issues around illegal minibus taxi ranks in Harare’s central business district, where violent clashes over territory frequently occur.

The arrest of a serving officer has also raised fresh concerns about corruption within law enforcement, though police have not commented further on the specific allegations.