A dramatic blaze erupted at Harare Central Police Station last Saturday, leaving the city stunned and raising suspicions as US$40,000 vanished from the exhibit room during the chaos. The incident has resulted in the arrest of three police officers, aged 46, 43, and 36, who are now facing charges related to the inferno and the missing funds. The three officers were arraigned at the Harare Magistrates Court amidst the unfolding investigation.
Inferno’s Origins Remain Shrouded in Mystery
The fire, which reportedly started in the early hours of the morning, is believed to have originated within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the police station. The flames quickly spread, causing damage to exhibits and documents housed within the CID offices, including that of the officer commanding Harare province, Commissioner Wonder Tembo. The fire’s origin has ignited speculations about its cause, with an electrical fault being considered as one possible explanation.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national police spokesperson, shed light on the situation, stating, “We are still assessing the amount of damage caused by the fire, and investigations with a view to finding out what exactly happened have started.” The police are currently working to determine whether the blaze was the result of an unfortunate accident or if it had more sinister origins.
As the authorities dealt with the aftermath of the fire, a startling revelation emerged: US$40,000 that had been stored in the exhibit room was nowhere to be found,Source reports. This revelation led to further suspicion and the subsequent arrest of the three police officers who are now facing charges over the arson and the disappearance of the funds. The incident has shaken the trust in the police force and raised questions about the security and management of crucial evidence.
Possible Link to Power Outage
Intriguingly, reports suggest that the Harare Central Police Station had been grappling with a power outage for four days leading up to the fire. This has led to theories that the electrical fault might have contributed to the fire’s ignition. ZESA workers were observed attending to an electrical fault at the Charge Office bus terminus, potentially indicating a connection between the power outage and the fire’s origin.
As investigations unfold and authorities piece together the events that transpired on that fateful night, the Harare community remains both baffled and concerned about the integrity of its law enforcement agencies.
Source iHarare.com
