Police in Mashonaland Central have launched a manhunt for an officer accused of disappearing with a marked police vehicle taken from the Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) in Harare.
The officer, identified as Assistant Inspector Mandizvidza, is alleged to have driven away in an official Ford Ranger before vanishing. The vehicle, a marked police truck bearing registration number 033, has not been recovered, and details of the circumstances surrounding its disappearance remain under investigation.
According to an internal police memorandum dated August 13, the matter was deemed urgent enough to warrant immediate circulation to all stations in neighbouring Mashonaland East Province. The directive instructed officers to be on high alert, establish roadblocks, and carry out intensified patrols in a bid to intercept the missing vehicle.
“Stations to mount roadblocks and patrols to be on the lookout for the stolen vehicle. If located, arrest and detain for CID Bindura,” the memo, signed by the Mazowe District police chief, read in part.
The internal alert suggested that police intelligence indicated the Ford Ranger had been driven into Mashonaland Central, prompting regional coordination between provincial commands to track it down. Officers in surrounding districts have also been urged to remain vigilant in case the vehicle is moved across provincial boundaries.
So far, police have not provided a public statement detailing the circumstances under which the vehicle was allegedly taken from PGHQ. Law enforcement insiders say the investigation is at a delicate stage, with authorities still trying to piece together Mandizvidza’s movements and determine whether the incident was premeditated or opportunistic.
Sources within the police force, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the incident as “deeply embarrassing” for the service, given that the vehicle was taken from one of the most secure and closely monitored facilities in the country. PGHQ, located in Harare, houses senior officers, administrative offices, and secure parking areas for operational vehicles.
“It’s not easy for an officer to drive out with a marked vehicle from PGHQ without clearance,” one source said. “If this happened, it means procedures were bypassed or there was some level of inside facilitation. Investigators will definitely be looking at who else was on duty that day.”
Mashonaland Central Police Hunt for Officer Who Vanished With Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger in question is believed to be part of the operational fleet used for police duties, including patrols, rapid response, and deployments to public events. Its disappearance has not only raised operational concerns but also heightened fears about the potential misuse of official vehicles in criminal activities.
Law enforcement analysts warn that a marked police vehicle in the wrong hands could be used to commit crimes under the guise of law enforcement, potentially allowing perpetrators to bypass security checkpoints or gain the trust of unsuspecting members of the public.
Police have not disclosed whether Mandizvidza is suspected of acting alone or in collaboration with others. Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Bindura are reportedly leading the probe, working in coordination with officers in Mashonaland East and Harare.
The internal memo’s urgent tone reflects the seriousness with which the matter is being treated. Such alerts are typically issued in cases involving stolen firearms, missing suspects in high-profile cases, or theft of sensitive police property. The inclusion of an instruction to “arrest and detain” the officer upon sighting indicates that the authorities are treating the disappearance as a criminal matter rather than a simple disciplinary breach.
As of Thursday, there had been no official confirmation of sightings of the missing vehicle, despite the heightened roadblock activity in several districts. Motorists in parts of Mazowe, Bindura, and Mvurwi reported increased police presence, with officers closely inspecting vehicles and asking questions about the missing Ford Ranger.
The incident has also triggered discussions within the police service about tightening vehicle control procedures. Some officers have suggested that digital tracking systems should be installed on all marked police vehicles to allow real-time location monitoring, thereby preventing such incidents or enabling faster recovery.
For now, the search for Assistant Inspector Mandizvidza and the missing Ford Ranger continues. Authorities have appealed to members of the public to report any sightings of the vehicle and to exercise caution if approached by anyone using it.
Police sources say the investigation is expected to intensify over the coming days, with teams combing through surveillance footage, reviewing duty rosters, and questioning officers who may have interacted with Mandizvidza prior to his disappearance.
Whether the incident turns out to be an act of internal misconduct, a personal dispute gone wrong, or part of a more elaborate scheme remains to be seen. What is certain is that the recovery of the Ford Ranger and the apprehension of its alleged taker have now become top priorities for law enforcement in Mashonaland Central.
Source- Bulawayo24
