A public prosecutor is facing conviction after he was arrested for demanding a bribe in the Henrietta Rushwaya gold smuggling case last year.
Pardon Dziva, a public prosecutor based at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, along with co-defendant Alex Tombe, has been found guilty of fraud by the Harare High Court. The verdict was delivered today, marking a significant development in the corruption case linked to Henrietta Rushwaya.
According to the State’s account, on November 15, 2023, Dziva solicited a bribe of US$20,000 from Wellington Takavarasha. The purpose of this bribe was to secure a more lenient sentence for Henrietta Rushwaya, who had been convicted of smuggling by a judge at the Harare High Court.
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Events that led to the arrest
Wellington Takavarasha, upon receiving this demand, informed Henrietta Rushwaya’s sister, Helliate Rushwaya, about the situation. Helliate promptly reported the incident to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Anti-Corruption unit, who then devised a plan to arrest the suspects.
In cooperation with the authorities, Helliate Rushwaya arranged to meet the accused at the CABS Centre. During this meeting, Alex Tombe approached her, claiming he had been sent by Dziva to collect the money. However, Helliate refused to hand over the funds and insisted on dealing directly with Dziva.
The parties then moved to Kebab Restaurant in Milton Park, where Helliate and Dziva finally met. In the parking lot, Helliate handed over the marked trap money to Dziva. This exchange led to the immediate arrest of both Dziva and Tombe by the anti-corruption officers.
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Upcoming Proceedings
Following their conviction, both Dziva and Tombe are scheduled to appear in court for a pre-sentencing hearing on June 4th. This hearing will determine the penalties they will face for their involvement in the bribery scheme.
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