MARTIN MAWAYA
Gweru Magistrate Arnold Maburo has sentenced police officer Michael Mapeture to 30 months in prison for multiple counts of forgery.
Mapeture, stationed at the ZRP Support Unit in Buchwa as an armorer, pleaded guilty to all eight counts of forgery under Section 137 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Mapeture will serve an effective 19 months in prison after the magistrate suspended six months of the sentence on condition of good behavior, as well as an additional five months that he restitute a combined total of US$360 to Shonha Mutekedza, Phelithemba Ndlovana, Tapiwa Kotsi, and Luckson Chikovo.
Prosecutor Taurai Mavuto told the court that between 2022 and 2024, Mapeture unlawfully forged blank firearm certificate forms belonging to the Central Firearms Registry.
He filled in false details, forged signatures, and used the registry’s date stamp without authorization.
“He would then provide the forged certificates to various firearm holders for a fee ranging from $30 to $200,” Mavuto stated.
The state counsel noted that the forged certificates were discovered when firearm holders presented them to the Police Intelligence Section, which subsequently sent them to the Central Firearms Registry for verification.
The registry confirmed that the certificates were counterfeit and did not originate from their office.
In delivering the sentence, Magistrate Maburo stated, “The accused betrayed the public’s trust by abusing his position as a police officer to illegally profit from forging firearm certificates.”
Mapeture was represented by his lawyer, Esau Mandipa.
