BY MOSES MATENGA
POLICE said yesterday they were investigating controversial self-proclaimed prophet Passion Java for breaking the Police Act after a photo of him wearing a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) hat went viral.

Java, who boasts of being close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and is vice-chairman of the Zanu PF-aligned Affirmative Action Group (AAG), was pictured in a vehicle wearing a hat belonging to a policewoman.

The policeman was standing outside the vehicle.

“The ZRP has taken note of a photo circulating on social media in which a policewoman is seen standing next to a man wearing a policeman’s cap,” the police statement read in part.

“Investigations are ongoing and a detailed statement will be released after the investigations are completed.”

According to the Police Act, any person who wears a uniform or a distinctive badge or button of the police force or anything that could reasonably be confused with such a uniform or likely to deceive without the authorization of the commissioner will be guilty of an offense and liable to a fine not exceeding the fifth degree or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

In 2014, police arrested Robert Boyiboyi for criminal nuisance after he shared a photo wearing a police uniform.

Boyiboyi was sentenced to three months in prison, with the option of paying a $100 fine.

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