Bribery Case: Prosecutor and Associate Sentenced
By Dumisani Ndlovu
A court in Harare has sentenced a public prosecutor, Pardon Dziva, to 8 years in prison for accepting a $20,000 bribe from the Zimbabwe Miners Federation president, Henrietta Rushwaya.
Dziva had successfully prosecuted Rushwaya for gold smuggling but demanded the bribe to reduce her sentence. His accomplice, Alex Tombe, received a 6-year sentence.
Pardon Dziva, a prosecutor, and Alex Tombe were sentenced to 8 and 6 years in prison, respectively, for bribery. Dziva demanded $20,000 to reduce Henrietta Rushwaya’s sentence for gold smuggling. They were caught in a trap set by the Anti-Corruption Unit after Rushwaya’s sister reported the incident.
He said the money was to facilitate a lighter sentence for Rushwaya, who had been convicted by the High Court for trying to smuggle 6 kg of gold through the Robert Mugabe International Airport.
Rushwaya eventually escaped imprisonment after being fined US$5 000.Takavarasha told Ruswaya’s sister Helliate, of Dziva’s demands. Helliate reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Anti-Corruption Unit and a trap was set for Dziva. Helliate then agreed to meet Dziva and Tombe at CABS Centre where Tombe approached Helliate and indicated that he had been sent to collect the money by Dziva.
Helliate refused to hand over the money and insisted on handing it over to Dziva.They drove to Kebbab Restaurant in Milton Park where they met Dziva. Dziva went to Helliate’s car and she handed him the trap money leading to his and Tombe’s subsequent arrest.
