RG employees in trouble over $20 bribe

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TWO officials at the Gokwe South registrar general (RG)’s office are in trouble after they allegedly demanded a bribe of $20 from a member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), who lost his identity card and wanted to reapply for a new one.

TWO officials at the Gokwe South registrar general (RG)’s office are in trouble after they allegedly demanded a bribe of $20 from a member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), who lost his identity card and wanted to reapply for a new one.

SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

The two, Peter Gibson Masvinge (38) and John White Farai (40, who are both processing officers at the Gokwe South registry offices, pleaded not guilty to the bribery charge when they appeared before Gokwe resident magistrate Shepherd Mjanja on Monday.

The magistrate remanded them to March 19 for continuation of trial and they are out of custody on $100 bail each.

The court heard that on January 22 this year, the ZNA member, Keep Muringa of Sasame in Gokwe, who is a cadet trainee at 32 Infantry Battalion in Nyanga, approached Masvinge at the registry office hoping to replace his lost particulars.

Masvinge allegedly demanded $20 from him, which he failed to raise. On January 26, Muringa went back to the registry office, where he met Farai.

Farai allegedly referred him to Makombe Building in Harare.

On January 30, Muringa went to Makombe Building where he was referred back to the Gokwe South registry.

On the same day, he went to Gokwe South registry office, where he met Masvinge, who demanded $20 in order to have his identity card processed.

Masvinge allegedly directed him to give the money to Farai, who collected it, but did not give Muringa a receipt.

Farai then processed the identity card for Muringa.

Muringa later made a report to the police, leading to the recovery of the $20 from Masvinge, through the assistance of a Public Service Commission inspector Sibusisiwe Mahefu.

Further investigations revealed that the two did not charge Muringa the $10 statutory fee to replace the lost identity card, contrary to regulations.

In their defence, the two told the court that they never collected any money from Muringa.

The two are represented by Reginald Chidawanyika, who is assisted by Solomon Kangembewu.

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