Two court prosecutors face corruption charges after demanding money from a traditional healer with legal troubles. Takunda Muzenda and Marlon Makamba work at Rusape Magistrates Court where they allegedly ran the scam. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission arrested both men for taking US$400 from their victim. Police had charged the traditional healer with making threats about unpaid debts during June 2023. The healer's wife sought help at court where officials directed her to the prosecutors.
Prosecutor Marlon Makamba first demanded US$250 from the family and received US$189 as payment. Takunda Muzenda later took control of the case and raised the demand to US$500. He told the family that US$300 would go to the magistrate and US$200 would stay with him. The traditional healer paid US$400 total after the prosecutors promised to resolve the legal problems. They advised the healer to avoid appearing at scheduled court dates.
The prosecution promises proved false when authorities issued an arrest warrant for the traditional healer. The victim realized the prosecutors had lied about fixing the case through bribery. ZACC investigators worked with the traditional healer to catch both prosecutors through a sting operation. The anti-corruption commission successfully gathered evidence of the illegal money demands. Court records show both men will appear before Mutare Magistrates Court on June 27.
The case reveals serious problems within Zimbabwe's court system that affect vulnerable people. Legal experts believe this scandal might lead to broader investigations of prosecutor misconduct. Traditional healers and other at-risk groups often become targets for corrupt court officials seeking easy money.
Prosecutor Marlon Makamba first demanded US$250 from the family and received US$189 as payment. Takunda Muzenda later took control of the case and raised the demand to US$500. He told the family that US$300 would go to the magistrate and US$200 would stay with him. The traditional healer paid US$400 total after the prosecutors promised to resolve the legal problems. They advised the healer to avoid appearing at scheduled court dates.
The prosecution promises proved false when authorities issued an arrest warrant for the traditional healer. The victim realized the prosecutors had lied about fixing the case through bribery. ZACC investigators worked with the traditional healer to catch both prosecutors through a sting operation. The anti-corruption commission successfully gathered evidence of the illegal money demands. Court records show both men will appear before Mutare Magistrates Court on June 27.
The case reveals serious problems within Zimbabwe's court system that affect vulnerable people. Legal experts believe this scandal might lead to broader investigations of prosecutor misconduct. Traditional healers and other at-risk groups often become targets for corrupt court officials seeking easy money.
