Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A LUPANE State University (LSU) student, who is accused of bribing a lecturer to secure a passing grade in a module she allegedly failed, has appeared in court.
Ms Sibonokuhle Khumalo appeared on Tuesday before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere charged with bribery.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being represented by her lawyer, Mr Simbarashe Innocent Madzivire of Mashayamombe Law Firm.
In her defence, Mr Madzivire denied that Ms Khumalo had ever submitted her assignment late or visited the lecturer’s office to offer a bribe.
“The accused person denies the allegations levelled against her. The accused person has known the complainant Ms Bekezela Chirisa for a period spanning over five years now, and they have built a good relationship. During the subsistence of their relationship, the accused person, who is a farmer, would constantly supply the complainant with farm products, who in turn would pay for such,” argued Mr Madzivire.
The defence lawyer further contended that in June last year, the complainant paid US$50 to the accused for a supply of tomatoes, but the transaction was disrupted by poor weather.
“Sometime during June 2025, the complainant paid the accused person US$50 to supply her with tomatoes, but due to the bad weather, the accused person failed to do so. The complainant put pressure on the accused demanding a refund, which led to the accused person sending her US$30 via EcoCash on the 25th of June 2025.
“The accused person denies ever sending the complainant any money to induce or reward her for marking any assignment, and resultantly she had no need to request such a favour,” said Mr Madzivire.
The matter was postponed to 31 July for the continuation of the trial.
According to prosecutor Ms Veronica Danai Manyuka, the student initially handed over US$20 to the academic inside her office, telling her to buy lunch.
“The lecturer flatly rejected the offering. Undeterred, the student left the office and immediately processed an EcoCash mobile money transfer of US$30 to the lecturer’s Ecocash line.
“She was asked by the lecturer why she had sent the money, but she did not respond. Prior to sending the money, she had sent the lecturer a message via WhatsApp saying she had no choice and was pleading her case,” said Ms Manyuka.
The court heard that the complainant instructed the student to come on the following day to collect the transferred funds, a meeting that was witnessed by the complainant’s colleague.
“When the academic results were published, it was revealed that the student had failed one of the modules. While a legitimate supplementary examination block was set for all failing candidates, the accused failed to turn up for the assessment on 19 August 2025. “Instead of following proper channels, the accused reportedly went behind the lecturer’s back to the department chairperson to demand an unauthorised, private test.
“She proceeded to the chairperson and asked to sit for a backdoor rewrite. The chairperson agreed and told the lecturer to set the examination. But the lecturer refused, and after a series of administrative disputes, the complainant reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused,” noted the prosecutor.
