FIVE AIRPORT OFFICIALS FACE BRIBERY CHARGES

By SBT Reporter, Harare

Five officials stationed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport are expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates Court on Thursday facing allegations of demanding and receiving bribes from travellers entering Zimbabwe.

The five, comprising two Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers and three Ministry of Agriculture employees, are accused of abusing their public offices by allegedly accepting payments in exchange for allowing travellers to bypass standard border clearance procedures.

The accused are Ncube Sithabiso (47), a detective sergeant; Mbira Aquisilia (40), a detective constable; Norman Chepi (45), an inspector with the Ministry of Agriculture; and Plant Health Assistants Danda Ratidzo (48) and Ngwenya Tafadzwa (44). They are accused of contravening Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], relating to criminal abuse of duty by a public officer.

According to investigators, the case came to light on 9 November 2026 after the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) alerted the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to alleged demands for money by officials and other stakeholders operating at the airport.

The alleged victims included returning residents and foreign visitors seeking entry into Zimbabwe.

ZACC investigators were subsequently invited to review closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage at ZIMRA's Command Centre in Harare. The footage allegedly captured airport officials and other stakeholders soliciting and receiving cash from travellers, particularly passengers arriving aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Following the review, a joint team of ZACC and ZIMRA officers proceeded to the airport, where the five suspects were identified and arrested. Searches conducted on the accused allegedly resulted in the recovery of cash in several foreign currencies from their handbags and pockets.

The reported recoveries included US$1,061, 700 Chinese yuan, 10,000 Tanzanian shillings, 60 United Arab Emirates dirhams, R10, five euros, 10,000 Rwandan francs and 1,000 Congolese francs. Investigators further allege that the officials gave preferential treatment to foreign nationals by allowing them to enter Zimbabwe without producing the required documentation and without subjecting their luggage to mandatory inspections.

In exchange, the accused allegedly demanded and received payments to facilitate the bypassing of established immigration and border clearance procedures. The allegations raise concerns about integrity, accountability and the effectiveness of controls at one of Zimbabwe's key international entry points. The five are expected to answer to the charges in court. They remain accused persons, and the allegations have yet to be tested through the judicial process.

Airport officials bribery Zimbabwe