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Peter Matika
IN an unprecedented turn of events in the judicial system, a Gwanda-based magistrate found himself on the wrong side of the law after being accused of soliciting for a bribe and has subsequently been remanded in custody until 9 September for a bail ruling.
Allegations against the 35-year old magistrate – Talent Phiri date back to an incident that occurred in August this year, where he allegedly granted an Interim Protection Order in favour of an applicant against her former husband.
The application process involved attaching a warrant of arrest on the order as part of the standard procedure.
However, the situation took a nefarious turn when Phiri allegedly solicited for US$3 000 bribe from the applicant’s ex-husband on 4 September, purportedly in exchange for leniency and assistance with the case.
The informant – who is the ex-husband– negotiated the bribe down from an initial request of US$3 000 to US$2 500 and recorded their conversations as evidence.
Shockingly, court records revealed that Phiri made startling claims about various authorities allegedly having a vested interest in the case, including members from the President’s Office, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, suggesting a conspiracy to implicate him.
As this case unfolds, the spotlight is on the need for transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance towards corruption within the judiciary to ensure public trust and confidence in the legal system.
More to follow…
derick.khumalo