Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A Chinhoyi magistrate and a prison officer appeared at Harare magistrate’s court yesterday after being implicated in a criminal abuse of duty storm.
Kudzanai Mahaso 30 and Proud Nziramasanga 34, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Jessie Kufa.
They were released on US$200 bail and were ordered not to interfere with witnesses, to reside at their provided addresses and to report once a fortnight at CID Chinhoyi.
Prosecutor Oscar Madhume alleged that from 18 November to 11 December 2025, Mahaso presided over a case of contravention of section 97 of the Environmental Management Act Chapter 20:27 ARW the first schedule which deals with leaching for gold without Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
The accused persons were Gudo Emmanuel and Constantine Gudo and it was said to have occurred at Farm 280 Chitomborizi under Zvimba.
Emmanuel Gudo was taken to court on December 18 and Nziramasanga approached the public prosecutor Brighton Machekera intending to bribe him and the Public Prosecutor declined the offer.
Machekera advised the investigating officers, who later found out that Nziramasanga and Constantine Gudo are longtime friends.
Nziramasanga was in the company of Constantine Gudo who he knew was wanted by the Police to stand trial together with Emmanuel Gudo but did not alert the Police instead he approached the Investigating Officers asking them not to arrest Constantine Gudo.
When the matter got into Court, Mahaso was the presiding Magistrate, who was dealing with the case.
It is the state’s case that on November 29, Mahaso and Nziramasanga teamed up with Constantine Gudo who was on the run for the same case and proceeded to the mining site which was the scene of crime in the court case.
The two were allegedly at the scene of crime for their personal business interests which was not part of the court process.
While at the scene Nziramasanga threatened the informants that he was going to deal with them since he was a high ranking Court official who is well connected and well versed in Court process. On December 11, Mahaso acquitted Emmanuel Gudo.
The state claimed that the duo’s visit to the farm in the company of Constantine Gudo, a wanted person who is still at large and subsequent acquittal of Emmanuel Gudo his son, was inconsistent or contrary with their duties as a Public Officers.
