Anti-corruption officers arrested two prosecutors at a Zimbabwe court for demanding bribes from a traditional healer. Takunda Chinakidzo Muzenda and Marlon Makamba face charges of criminal abuse of office after taking money to drop extortion charges. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission caught the men at a local bar as they received $100 from Freddy Dhonsa. Officers had set up a trap operation after Dhonsa reported the corruption scheme. Both prosecutors work at Rusape Magistrates Court and appeared in Mutare court Friday.
The prosecutors had demanded payments from Dhonsa since 2023 to make his extortion case disappear. Dhonsa faced charges for threatening a woman that her private parts would vanish unless she paid him money. Makamba first asked for $250 to change the case to a summons matter and received $189. Muzenda later took over and demanded $500 to completely destroy the court file. He claimed the presiding magistrate wanted $300 and he would keep $200 for himself.
Dhonsa became suspicious when court officials issued an arrest warrant against him despite the payments. He contacted a lawyer and reported the corruption to anti-corruption investigators. Officials arranged for Dhonsa to meet Muzenda at the bar with marked money. Commission officers recovered the $100 bill from Muzenda after his arrest. This marks the second time investigators have pursued Muzenda for similar corruption allegations.
The prosecutors had demanded payments from Dhonsa since 2023 to make his extortion case disappear. Dhonsa faced charges for threatening a woman that her private parts would vanish unless she paid him money. Makamba first asked for $250 to change the case to a summons matter and received $189. Muzenda later took over and demanded $500 to completely destroy the court file. He claimed the presiding magistrate wanted $300 and he would keep $200 for himself.
Dhonsa became suspicious when court officials issued an arrest warrant against him despite the payments. He contacted a lawyer and reported the corruption to anti-corruption investigators. Officials arranged for Dhonsa to meet Muzenda at the bar with marked money. Commission officers recovered the $100 bill from Muzenda after his arrest. This marks the second time investigators have pursued Muzenda for similar corruption allegations.
