Mutare Magistrates’ Court Fines Two Taxi Boss Employees for Bribery

By Dorrothy Moyo : Mutare, Zimbabwe — The Mutare Magistrates’ Court has handed down fines to Emmanuel Pemba (47) and Josphat Taizivei Tavashe (38), both employees of Taxi Boss, after convicting them of bribery under Section 170(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The duo was each fined USD $120 for their unlawful actions.

The bribery incident occurred on December 11, 2024, at a roadblock near Mutare Teachers College. Pemba, who was driving a commuter omnibus, and Tavashe, serving as the conductor, were stopped by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer Peace Runyararo Muchenje.

In an attempt to avoid penalties for traffic violations, Tavashe handed Muchenje USD $3.00 as a bribe. However, the exchange did not go unnoticed. Officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) were conducting surveillance in the area and witnessed the bribery.

Following the incident, Officer Muchenje was arrested for accepting the bribe. A subsequent manhunt led to the capture of Pemba and Tavashe, culminating in their conviction and sentencing.

The case highlights the Zimbabwean government’s ongoing crackdown on corruption, with authorities urging citizens to uphold integrity and transparency. The strong stance against bribery was reinforced by the Ministry of Justice, which emphasized the need for law enforcement and public cooperation in curbing corruption.

The conviction serves as a stern reminder that corruption, regardless of scale, will not be tolerated. The public is encouraged to report any instances of bribery and corruption to the relevant authorities as the nation pushes forward with its #NoToBribery campaign.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.