A radio host has been arraigned before the courts in for impersonation after she allegedly posed as a Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) operative.
She appeared in court twice in a week to answer to the charges and was remanded in custody for further investigations.
Thandeka Hilda Chitombo, also known as Ms Ndeka-T on air, initially appeared in court last Saturday and the matter was remanded to Monday for bail hearing.
Upon her return to court this Monday, defence lawyer Tinashe Dzvore applied for a postponement, to which the State obliged.
The State is likely to prefer more charges against Chitombo when she re-appears in the dock this Wednesday before Magistrate Mutasa.
The 30-year-old rookie radio personality is facing impersonation charges as defined in section 179 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.
The State alleges that sometime in October 2023, Chitombo went to Platinum FM, a Zimbabwe Newspapers (Zimpapers) Private Limited subsidiary, and got access through some unnamed employees from the programming department.
She allegedly met the complainant, who is the station manager, Davies Mugadza, and pledged to be a volunteer presenter broadcasting during weekends.
Chitombo was reportedly auditioned by a team from the programming department and she passed the test, before embarking on a three-month training stint.
According to the State, during the first week of January 2024, Chitombo was assigned to deliver a weekend show, The Sunday Chill Out from 3pm – 6 pm, as an on-air presenter.
During her training period, around November last year, she presented her credentials to Mugadza and allegedly told him that she was deployed from the President’s Office.
In a bid to authenticate her claim, Chitombo allegedly produced an identity card purporting to be a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) assigned at the radio station on an intelligence mission.
Mugadza reportedly contacted the President’s Office in Chinhoyi, enquiring about Chitombo, and the department promised to do background checks on her.
It is further alleged on February 1 this year, the President’s Office disowned Chitombo, resulting in accusations of impersonation.
She was subsequently arrested while in possession of the ‘fake’ CIO identity card, which will be produced in court as evidence.
When police proceeded to Chitombo’s residence in Ruvimbo Phase 1, Chinhoyi, they recovered two fake Zanu PF party cards purporting to portray her as a Central Committee member for Mashonaland West and Central provinces.
