Moffat Mungazi
Crime Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has taken action against Rusape prosecutor, Takunda Muzenda, who is accused of demanding a bribe from a suspect he was prosecuting.
ZACC arrested and recorded a statement from Muzenda, and also questioned another prosecutor, Marlon Makamba and Clerk of Court, Gladman Gabaza.
They are suspected of defeating the course of justice by tipping off Muzenda about a sting operation to trap him.
Despite the arrests and questioning, none of the officials have been charged yet, and they are all still reporting for duty.
The complainant, Rumbidzai Sananga, who is facing charges of cultivating dagga, inadvertently allegedly foiled the trap by sharing information about the sting operation with her sister, who then allegedly discussed it with Gabaza.
Gabaza allegedly informed Makamba, who quickly tipped off Muzenda about the plot to arrest him.
When Sananga arrived at the court with the money, and with ZACC officials waiting in the corridors ready to pounce on Muzenda, they were surprised when he vehemently refused to accept the money from the accused person.
This promoted ZACC to probe why their plan had failed, only to discover that the complainant’s sister was the source of the leak.
According to ZACC, Muzenda approached the suspect and demanded US$150. She promised to bring the money later in the day, but instead alerted ZACC officials of the alleged demand.
She also went on to inform her sister, Chenai Kundidzo of the trap to nab Muzenda.
In a casual talk with Gabaza, Kundidzo allegedly let the cat out of the bag and exposed the trap.
“A report was made to ZACC resulting in a sting operation. On January 30, 2025, ZACC officers accompanied Sananga to Muzenda’s office under the guise of delivering the bribe. However, Muzenda abruptly refused the money after receiving a phone call alerting him about the trap.
“Investigations revealed that a fellow prosecutor, Marlon Makamba had warned Muzenda. Makamba also indicated that he had been tipped off by Gladman Gabaza, a Rusape court clerk, who learnt of the operation from Sananga’s sister, Chenai Kundidzo. Kundidzo confessed to have inadvertently revealed the plan to Gabaza during a conversation,” said ZACC in a statement.
In a different case, two police officers based at Sakubva Police Station who were early last month arrested for allegedly assaulting ZACC officials will be back in the dock today (Friday).
Sergeant Mduduzi Makina (39) and Constable Elliot Gava (42) allegedly manhandled and injured ZACC investigators who had arrested a police officer on allegations of bribery.
Makina and Gava were remanded out of custody on US$100 bail each, facing charges of resisting or assaulting a police officer when they appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe recently.
They will appear in court again today (Friday) for routine remand.
The incident happened on December 11, 2024.
The State led by Mr Chris Munyuku said the two accused were on duty at a police block along Mutare-Chimanimani Highway near Mutare Teachers’ College when the ZACC team pounced on them.
During surveillance, the ZACC investigators noticed that some police officers were soliciting for bribes from motorists.
The ZACC team arrested Constable Peace Muchenje.
Thereafter, they seized a roadblock declaration book, which they intended to hold as an exhibit.
It is alleged that Makina and Gava confronted the ZACC officers, insisting that they should hand back the declaration book.
The two pulled one of the ZACC investigators from the driver’s seat, removed the car keys from the ignition and twisted his arm.
The duo allegedly grabbed the declaration book and fled from the scene.
Online Reporter