HARARE - A police officer who refused a whopping $250 000 bribe was yesterday crowned cop of the year for 2012.

Detective constable Chenjerai Zambuko of the police’s Border Control and Minerals Unit walked away with a $3 000 cash prize for his sterling professionalism.

On June 10 last year, Zambuko received information that two men were in the business of smuggling gold to South Africa and tracked them down.

Although he was offered a $250 000 bribe — a fortune to most cops and indeed the majority of Zimbabweans who earn less than $500 a month — Zambuko refused the temptation and instead arrested an Asian man who owned the     14 635 grammes of gold worth one million dollars.

The case is still pending at the High Court.

The second prize at a colourful Cottco-sponsored function went to Prosper Majiwa who is assigned to guard a Supreme Court judge.

Majiwa single-handedly arrested an armed robber and for his efforts walked away with a $2 000 cash prize money.

Itsibeleng Nyathi, a neighbourhood watch committee member from Khulumani Police Station, beat qualified police officers to the third position after he managed disarm and  apprehend an armed robber in Bulawayo.

Nyathi went home $1000 richer.

Binga was voted the overall best police station at a ceremony held at Morris Depot and received $1 250 for reducing poaching in Matabeleland North Province. - Chenjerai Zambuko