Zim Presidential guard, CIO officers accused in $2,000 hostage ransom scheme
HARARE — Five Zimbabwean security agents, including members of the presidential guard and Central Intelligence Organisation, are facing extortion and robbery charges after allegedly holding Chinese miners hostage at a Mazowe mine and demanding a US$2,000 bribe for their release.
Prosecutors allege that on Oct. 19, Samuel Zvishamiso Simbabure, Respect Zuva, Chamunorwa Victor Chinorwiwa, Hilary Maravanyika, and Tawanda Ngoshi went to the Murodzi mining claim in Mazowe, posing as Criminal Investigations Department officers. The group reportedly gathered Chinese national Enjie Zhang and 25 mine workers, ordered them to sit down, and threatened to shoot if anyone tried to escape.
The suspects allegedly demanded that Zhang and his fellow Chinese workers produce their identity documents and work permits. When the miners couldn’t provide permits, the accused reportedly accused them of illegal mining and demanded US$2,000 in exchange for their freedom. Zhang complied, contacting his manager in Harare, who arranged to have the money delivered to Zimbabwe House, where Ngoshi collected it, according to court documents.
One Chinese miner managed to escape and raised additional funds from another mining site to secure the hostages’ release. A further US$800 payment was allegedly handed over, allowing the workers to leave.
The suspects’ demands continued even after the initial payment, authorities said. On Oct. 21, Simbabure allegedly called an informant at Zimbabwe House to request an additional bribe. The informant alerted authorities, who apprehended Simbabure and Maravanyika at the scene, leading them to implicate four other suspects, some of whom remain at large.
All five accused are due back in court Tuesday to challenge their placement on remand.
