by Audrey L Ncube
Gilbert Mufandaedza, 27, from Jenya Farm, Karoi, was brought before the Karoi Magistrates’ Court to answer bribery charges, following an incident on October 12, 2024, as confirmed by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA).
On the day of the incident, a police officer in Karoi spotted an unregistered motorcycle owned by Kennedy Chirongoma. The officer detained Chirongoma for not registering his vehicle. In an effort to secure Chirongoma’s release, Mufandaedza allegedly approached the officer and offered a bribe of $5 USD.
However, the officer, displaying vigilance, documented the serial number of the $5 bill and subsequently arrested Mufandaedza for attempting to bribe a law enforcement officer.
Mufandaedza was sentenced to six months in prison, though three months were suspended for five years, contingent upon him not committing any similar offenses. The remaining three months of his sentence were suspended, provided he fulfills 105 hours of community service.
In a separate bribery-related case, two Central Investigations Department (CID) officers, Tofarasei Chipindu (33) and Japhet Matahwa (34), were arrested in April 2024. They faced bribery charges after allegedly using their positions to obstruct justice in a theft investigation.
The CID officers reportedly summoned Laston Changamire to the CID Triangle offices on February 8, 2024, and informed him that both he and Tawanda Changamire were implicated in a theft case. The officers allegedly claimed the two had received $150 each from stolen funds and demanded an additional $150 in bribes from both Changamires to prevent prosecution alongside another suspect, Justin Saizi. The Changamires were allegedly coerced into paying the bribe.
