Online Reporter
Court Correspondent
A Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer stationed at Harare Central Prison has appeared in court on allegations of soliciting a US$1 000 bribe from a woman after falsely claiming he could influence a court case involving her brother.
Dominic Nyemba (28) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Nyaradzo Manokore, facing a charge of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
He was granted US$100 bail and remanded to 23 June. The complainant is Emily Gombiro.
According to the prosecution, on June 6, 2026, the complainant visited Harare Central Prison to see her brother, Simbarashe Ruzema, who was in custody on a culpable homicide charge.
While at the prison, Nyemba allegedly approached the complainant and misrepresented that he could secure a non-custodial sentence for her brother if she paid US$1 000.
He allegedly claimed the money would be passed on to the presiding magistrate and the prosecutor handling the matter.
Acting on the representation, the complainant and her husband, Blessing Manyumwa, met Nyemba outside the Harare Magistrates Court at Rotten Row on June 8, 2026, at around 11 am, where they allegedly handed him US$1 000 in cash.
The following day, Nyemba allegedly demanded an additional US$500 from the complainant.
His demand reportedly raised suspicion, prompting the complainant to report the matter to the police.
Investigations were launched, leading to Nyemba’s arrest.
