Summary from one of the victims.
2 weeks ago I went to VID Eastlea to book my wife for a class 4 driver’s license. She did her tests in the morning but failed, when we were on our way back to my car a man approached us claiming his called Munashe and was sent to tell us that the examiner said call me when you’re alone since what made you fail the tests isn’t a major issue, We called the person and he claimed to be an examiner said indeed he could be of help but we’d have to pay USD150 to get the license. My wife and I agreed on the offer as she was also frustrated about it. We were asked to send the money through EcoCash and l insisted that I won’t send money to someone l’m not seeing on the ground but he was also defensive that I should send saying nothing will happen but I kept insisting until he agreed to it.
The guy we were to meet for the EcoCash payment came wearing all VID attire, he asked us to transfer the money as we were together also saying I will process the license as soon as possible. He asked us to go back and park where we met Munashe. We stayed there for about 2/3hrs waiting for him until we called telling him that my wife was supposed to go back to work she had only asked to be excused for 2 hrs only. He then said one person was left to be bribed so we should add USD100 and then they will pass over the license without fail.We sent the USD100 and about twenty mins later they called saying the paper used for license making is finished so someone went to take it at CVR, 30 mins later we called they were talking about keys at CVR having gone with someone, we ended up giving up and left. All along we were communicating through my wife’s number, so a Netone anonymous number called saying send your passport photo pictures, ID number and learner’s license number, They told her they’d communicate further.
They then said lets meet at Fourth and Samora’s Zuva, I went there and they said will use their car to go to VID Eastlea, I got in and they locked the doors and then they put me in cuffs and said I was ‘ being trapped all along they are from Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption.They said we should go get the owner of the license as l was not at fault, I asked them to pay my car’s parking before we left and the other guy said I’ll pay since you might run away. The other guy l was left with in the car said we should talk to each other as men, he asked how much money I have, I told them I had $10 they refused it $50 then $100 and they denied saying that’s a few dollars they need from USD1000, they even said they want USD3 000.l told them I don’t have such money, I told them I had USD100 only.
My wife was called and after knowing l was in cuffs she panicked and said have USD500 on me convince them to take it. They first refused then later agreed saying they’ll take the USD500 from my wife and the USD100 that l had said i have in the car, to make it USD600. They told us not to communicate with the people from VID only to hear from them.They then called in the afternoon saying the license had been processed but it was blocked in the system due to the corrupt and illegal means it was earned,so my wife can no longer get access to a license so we should pay USD120 for it to be unblocked. I told them l no longer have such money as they had pruned my wife and l from our savings but they said we will all get arrested including them because if they are seen witholding the license they will be in trouble. I told them I’d send and i did so.
They then sent a computer made license that was inserted a picture, didn’t have gender,wrong DOB and no license number. They then requested for USD80 to fix these errors and my wife and l were not in agreement and told them they could keep it. l then requested for my wife’s provisional back and they said we need to pay to get it back as well so again we told them to keep it. MANDATE: i) Locating the accused ii)Assist in money recovery if possible iii)Apprehend them to the police