Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
HARARE regional Magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei has acquitted Health Service Commission legal manager Mr Wilson Matsika, who was facing extortion charges after he allegedly demanded US$1 000 from a former employee to approve of his reinstatement without further appeal after he had won his Labour Court case against the commission.
In his ruling, Mr Ndirowei said he could agree more that the evidence led by the State proved much ado about nothing, considering the gravamen of the charge preferred against the accused person.
Mr Ndirowei said it was clear that the State had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused person.
Matsika was represented by Mr Admire Rubaya.
It was alleged that on September 15, 2022, Godwin Takaniwa was dismissed from work as a result of a disciplinary hearing on allegations of misconduct.
He appealed against the decision of the disciplinary committee to the then Health Service Board and the appeal was turned down.
He then appealed to the Labour Court and his case was heard on January 25 this year.
While the case was at the Labour Court, Mr Matsika invited Mr Takaniwa to his office and offered to help him with the matter that was before the court so that he could get his job back in exchange for some money.
Mr Takaniwa turned down the offer.
On February 19, the Labour Court ruled in Mr Takaniwa’s favour and ordered that he be reinstated without loss of salary and benefits. But Mr Matsika was reluctant to action the court order.
He demanded US$1 000 from Mr Takaniwa so that he would not appeal against the Labour Court ruling, noting that if Mr Takaniwa was reinstated, he would get more than US$1 000.
Mr Takaniwa reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). A trap was set on March 5 using US$300.
However, Matsika refused to accept the US$300 saying it was way too little considering the favour he was going to do for Mr Takaniwa, and continued to demand US$1 000.
On March 20 he sent a message to Mr Takaniwa saying he had written the appeal papers and that he should come and collect them to give to his lawyers.
Mr Takaniwa went to Matsika’s office on the same day and he still demanded US$1 000 to withdraw the appeal he was making to the Supreme Court.
Mr Takaniwa reasoned with Mr Matsika and the latter asked him to pay US$600 immediately and the balance of US$400 later.
Mr sMatsika was arrested after receiving the US$600.
