Former Chitungwiza councillor Charamba Mlambo has appeared in court on allegations of offering to bribe Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) officers to stop investigating a “friend”.
ZACC stepped in and arrested the councillor when he invited a team from the anti-corruption body to name their price.
Mlambo (40) faced bribery charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei.He was granted US$200 bail and remanded to December 18 pending trial.
Allegations are that a four-member Zacc team comprising Elisha Chimusoro, G. Chinjikupi, Stanley Nduku and T. Chipuriro was investigating a Chitungwiza municipal official of potential criminal abuse of duty as a public officer under HCR 50/08/23.
It is alleged that on Tuesday last week, the team invited Lorrie Motsi for an interview in connection with the case.
During the interview, Motsi wanted to go to her work place to collect documents she intended to provide as part of her statement.
On the same day at 4.57pm, Mlambo contacted Mr Nduku asking to meet him.
Mr Nduku advised him to come to Zacc’s offices on Herbert Chitepo Avenue in Harare and then notified his team members who advised him to entertain Mlambo so that they could establish his intention.
The next day, team leader Mr Chimusoro, received a call from an anonymous caller informing him that Mlambo had collected money from land barons which he claimed was intended to bribe Zacc officials so that they could not arrest Motsi.
The team then decided to record the conversation and possibly arrest Mlambo if he offered Mr Nduku a bribe.
When Mlambo called Mr Nduku advising him that he was outside the Zacc Herbert Chitepo Avenue offices, Mr Nduku proceeded to talk to him in one of the vehicles stationed at the Zacc entrance.
Mlambo told Mr Nduku about his intention to bribe the team in order for them to release Motsi and allegedly urged Mr Nduku to state the amount the team required.
Mr Nduku then returned to the office and played the audio recording to his team members, leading to Mlambo’s arrest.
Source Zim Situation
