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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
TWO Chipinge women who were attached to the Registrar General’s Office to conduct mobile registration programme were recently nabbed for soliciting for bribes.
The duo, Prisca Musava (31) of Marega Village under Chief Garahwa and Sarah Mupango (41) of Gaza in Chipinge appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi, facing two counts of fraud as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Musava who is employed by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development pleaded guilty, while Mupango who is a Registrar General’s Office staffer pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting, Mrs Delia Khataziye said on May 16, the complainant, Mrs Lady Simango of Marega Village went to Marega Primary School to acquire a birth certificate for her child.
“Musava approached Mrs Simango and solicited for R200 bribe so that she could facilitate the speedy registration of the birth certificate through her accomplice, Mupango.
“Mrs Simango complied and gave Musava the money. Musava told Mrs Simango to return the following day and collect the birth certificate. On May 17, the complainant returned intending to collect the birth certificate, but failed to acquire it.
“She came back again on May 18, but Musava gave her another excuse, prompting her to make a police report,” said Mrs Khataziye.
In the other count, Mrs Khataziye said on May 16, the complainant, Mrs Diana Simango approached Musava intending to collect national IDs for her three children.
“She was told to bring R600 to facilitate the speedy processing of the documents. Mrs Simango gave Musava the money and was told to return the following day for collection. She went back on May 17 to collect the IDs, but Musava failed to produce them. She demanded her money back, but Musava failed to refund her.
“The matter was reported to the police, thereby leading to Musava and Mupango’s arrest,” she said.
Mrs Hanzi slapped Musava with a seven months jail term which was wholly suspended on condition that she restitutes the R800.
Mupango was further remanded out of custody to a later date for trial.
Online Reporter