Daylight Robbery: Woman Duped of US$200 by Fake Council Police in Harare

In a city increasingly polarized by illicit deals and fraud, residents and visitors are falling victim to brazen daylight robberies—carried out by individuals masquerading as law enforcement agents. In one such incident on 16 February, a Zimbabwean woman who recently returned from England was conned of US$200 by suspected imposters dressed as Harare City Council police officers in the central business district.

The woman, who had been living in England for several years, was visiting Harare with her daughter who had left Zimbabwe at the age of 11. While navigating the city’s streets, she pulled over to wait for her daughter, who was driving behind her.

It was then that two young men, believed to be imposters wearing Harare City Council police uniforms, approached her vehicle. They accused her of parking in an undesignated space and proceeded to “arrest” her, imposing several harsh conditions in an apparent bid to extort money.

The suspects instructed her to drive to what they claimed was their storeroom, where they said the vehicle would be impounded and later released upon payment. They told her the fine amounted to $172, with an additional $30 fee for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), bringing the total demanded to $202.

However, a social media user commenting on the incident on X (formerly Twitter) noted that the official maximum fine for such an offence was $50.

After a prolonged exchange, the woman handed over US$200 to the suspects in an effort to prevent her car from being towed by individuals she believed were impersonating municipal police officers. No receipt was issued for the payment. She later reported the matter to the police.

Authorities have yet to confirm whether any arrests have been made. The incident has sparked outrage online, with many calling for tighter measures to deal with rogue elements within and outside the city's law enforcement structures.