Tafadzwa ‘Detective Kedha’ Chidawa Biography & Profile
Tafadzwa Chidawa, also known as ‘Detective Kedha,’ is a Zimbabwean figure who has gained attention for his diverse experiences, ranging from his career as a police officer to his involvement in political activities and anti-crime content creation on social media. He has also been arrested multiple times on allegations of criminal activities. This biography delves into various facets of the life of Tafadzwa Chidawa, shedding light on his early years, law enforcement career, political pursuits, and notable controversies while working as a pliceman and after leaving the force.
Age & Date of Birth
Tafadzwa Chidawa’s exact date of birth cannot be established from publicly available records. However, according to court documents from 2019, he was aged 31 indicating that he was born in 1988 or 1987.
Early Life & Education
Details regarding Tafadzwa Chidawa’s early life and education are not provided in publicly available information.
Police Career
Tafadzwa Chidawa served as a police officer until his retirement in 2019. During his law enforcement tenure, he garnered attention for his involvement in various controversial incidents, some of which resulted in his arrest.
ZANU PF Political Career and 2023 Elections
image credit: facebook
In August 2023, Tafadzwa Chidawa contested as a parliamentary candidate for the Zanu PF party in Harare. He was deffeated in the elections, securing only 3,992 votes compared to his opponent, Shakespear Hamauswa, who garnered 19,609 votes for the Citizens Coalition for Change.
Anti-Crime Content Creation Activities
After retiring from the Zimbabwe Republic Police in 2019, Chidawa gained notoriety for his activities in tracking and catching criminals, particularly thieves, pickpockets and other confidence con artists. He became popular on Facebook for live-streaming incidents where he apprehended individuals involved in criminal activities, showcasing their modus operandi and assisting law enforcement in curbing such incidents.
Chadonha Incident
Chidawa’s vigilantism came to the forefront in a notable chadonha incident in Harare. Through his Facebook live videos, he captured the moment when he thwarted two thieves attempting to con unsuspecting victims using the chadonha technique. Chidawa, along with a partner, managed to handcuff the culprits and handed them over to the police.
Controversies
2014 Arrest Over & Court Appearance for Kombi-Smashing Allegations
In May 2014, Tafadzwa Chidawa, along with another member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, appeared in court for trial on charges of malicious damage to property. The allegations stemmed from an incident where they reportedly smashed the windscreen of a commuter omnibus.
Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei, who presided over the case, remanded the two out of custody after they paid $20 bail each. The details of the court appearance revealed that the duo, identified as Soul Chirume and Tafadzwa Chidawa, confronted the kombi driver Eric Muchenje at the corner of Jason Moyo and Leopold Takawira streets.
Chirume allegedly smashed the side window pane and the windscreen of the complainant’s car, and the police officers indiscriminately assaulted Muchenje. They were restrained by their colleague Benjamin Chivasa, and Muchenje, who sustained multiple assault injuries, later filed a police report, leading to the pair’s arrest.
imag credit: facebook
2019 Arrest For Bribery and Robbery
In May 2019, Chidawa faced a significant legal challenge. Alongside four other police officers, he was accused of robbing a money changer of US$11,000 despite allegedly receiving a bribe to release confiscated funds. The case details revealed a complex sequence of events.
The money changer, Darlington Chiwara, had gone to a block of flats in Harare to meet a friend for a Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transfer for his US$200,000. Chidawa and his accomplices intercepted Chiwara, informing him of their arrest for illegal foreign currency dealings. They transported Chiwara to Harare Central Police Station, emphasizing the confiscation of his money.
At the police station, Chidawa and the others instructed Chiwara to remove money from his bag and leave it in the car’s boot. Chiwara complied, leaving US$158,400 in the locked vehicle. The accused officers counted the cash, recorded and seized US$41,600, demanding a US$2,000 bribe, which they shared amongst themselves.
A subsequent investigation by Chiwara revealed that US$11,000 was missing from the confiscated funds, leading to the arrest of Chidawa and his accomplices.
2023 Allegations of Vehicle Theft
On September 28, 2023, a police alert was issued for Chidawa, accusing him of stealing a vehicle from the ZIMRA car yard at Chirundu border post. The notice, signed by Detective Sergeant C Mabhidi of CID Chirundu, urged all police stations to be on the lookout for Chidawa and advised his arrest, detention, and notification of ZRP Chirundu for an escort
[Image Credit: H-Metro]
January 2024 Arrest for Car Theft
Arrest and Charges
The once-celebrated social media figure, Tafadzwa Chidawa, widely known as Detective Kedha, faced a dramatic turn of events in January 2024. Accused of stealing a vehicle valued at US$12,000 from South Africa and smuggling it into Zimbabwe, he was apprehended and brought to court to answer to these serious charges.
Vehicle Theft Allegations
The State alleged that Detective Kedha stole a Toyota Hilux double cab from South Africa in December 2022 and illicitly brought it into Zimbabwe. The prosecution claimed that he went further by fraudulently registering the vehicle, ensuring it had a Zimbabwean registration number (AGE 6745). The vehicle was purportedly sold to Melody Kufakwemba for US$12,000.
Discovery and Impoundment
On January 2, the vehicle, now in the possession of Kufakwemba’s son-in-law, was intercepted by detectives. During a routine registration check, authorities discovered that the vehicle had been fraudulently registered. Acting swiftly, law enforcement impounded the vehicle and conducted further investigations.
To ascertain the vehicle’s authenticity, the authorities checked with INTERPOL, utilizing the international database of stolen vehicles. The shocking revelation emerged – the Toyota Hilux had been reported stolen from South Africa. This revelation added an international dimension to the allegations against Detective Kedha, intensifying the legal ramifications of the case.
Additional Fraud Charges
In addition to the vehicle theft allegations, Detective Kedha faced another charge related to fraud. On July 4 of the previous year, he reportedly received US$8,500 from Melody Kufakwemba for the purchase of a Nissan Caravan. Allegedly promising to import the vehicle on her behalf, Detective Kedha failed to deliver. Subsequently, he persuaded her to provide additional funds to secure a Toyota Hilux, adding another layer to the pending legal matters.
Legal Proceedings and Outcome
Appearing in court on January 24, 2024, Detective Kedha’s legal counsel, Anesu Chirenje, represented him in the proceedings. The former police officer was remanded in custody until the scheduled bail hearing on Friday. The court considered the severity of the charges and the potential flight risk, contributing to the decision to deny immediate bail.
The legal outcome beyond this point remains pending, and Detective Kedha’s fate in the face of these serious allegations hinges on the unfolding legal proceedings. The case has added another layer of controversy to his already checkered past, from his career as a police officer to his subsequent activities in vigilantism and anti-crime content creation.
Tafadzwa ‘Cde Kedha’ Chidawa’s life has been marked by a diverse range of experiences, from his political ambitions to his role in law enforcement and subsequent vigilantism. The controversies surrounding his alleged involvement in criminal activities stand in stark contrast to his initial public image as a former police officer committed to combating crime.
References
- Police hunt losing Zanu PF parliamentary candidate over vehicle theft (November 05, 2023)
- Former Police Officer Catches Two Thieves Red-Handed During A Chadonha Incident In Harare (January 12, 2024)
- Dark underbelly of pickpocketing in Harare CBD (January 03, 2024)
- Cops steal US$11 000 from money changer (May 31, 2019)
- Kombi-smashing cops in court (May 9, 2014)
- 5 police officers in forex scam (May 31, 2019)
- Social Media Star Detective Kedha Nabbed for Car Theft – H-Metro
- Popular Street Detective Bail Application Tomorrow – The Herald
- From Hero To Handcuffs: Viral Social Media Detective Tafadzwa Chidawa Arrested For Car Theft – iHarare
