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Tendai Gukutikwa Mutare Bureau
A GRAIN Marketing Board employee in Mutare was arrested for demanding a bribe from a Command Agriculture beneficiary so that he would not condemn his maize. Clive Chikodzi of House Number 181, Maonde in Sakubva appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mabwe on Tuesday and was convicted on his own guilty plea. The 22-year-old was remanded to tomorrow for sentencing to allow the State to check for any previous convictions.
Chikodzi was charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer, as defined under Section 174 (1) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Naison Zviuya, a farmer had delivered 12,5 tonnes of maize under the Command Agriculture scheme when Chikodzi asked for a bribe threatening to reject the maize.
Members of the ZRP who were on duty at the GMB depot noticed Chikodzi demanding the bribe from Zviuya and put him under surveillance.
Chikodzi pestered Zviuya who was not willing to pay the bribe until he gave in and paid $5 for his maize delivery to be accepted.
Immediately after Zviuya paid the required amount, the police officers who had Chikodzi under surveillance arrested him.
The prosecutor, Mr Fletcher Karombe represented the State, while Zviuya was a self actor.
Online Reporter