Chief Maranda fined $40 000 for bribery
Ellen Mlambo
BEITBRIDGE – Chief Maranda born Brighton Maranda (46) who was arrested on Monday for offering a Beitbridge Police officer a R100 bribe after he was arrested for trying to cross the border without a passport has been slapped with a two months’ jail term.
Alternatively he will pay a $40 000 fine by May 31, 2022.
He appeared before Beitbridge Resident Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba. The R100 he had tried to use to bribe the cop was forfeited to the State as part of his sentence.
It is the State case that Maranda tried to cross the border at Beitbridge without a passport and using an illegal crossing point. He was arrested by Lackson Zimunda (44) and in a bid to win back his freedom, he offered him R100 bribe which the former rejected.
Magistrate Gwazemba passed sentence yesterday and considered that Maranda was a family man and a first time offender but however the crime committed was a serious one. He noted that as a chief Maranda was of high standing in society with important roles in the community and the judiciary as he adjudicates cases and therefore was not expected to commit such an offense.
Maranda was represented by Jabulani Mberesi of Tavenhave and Machingauta Legal Practitioners and Muchihwande Sithole of Chauke and Associates.
The State was represented by Ronald Mugwagwa and Pithey Magumula. They argued that the offense is a serious one and by committing such an offense, he undermined the narrative of achieving a corrupt free society.https://twonations.co.zw/
