Magistrate implicated in criminal abuse of duty

A Chinhoyi magistrate and a prison officer appeared at Harare Magistrates' Court yesterday facing allegations of criminal abuse of duty in connection with a gold mining case.

Kudzanai Mahaso, 30, and Proud Nziramasanga, 34, did not enter pleas when they appeared before Harare magistrate Jessie Kufa. They were released on US$200 bail each and ordered not to interfere with witnesses, to reside at their provided addresses, and to report once every fortnight to CID Chinhoyi.

Prosecutor Oscar Madhume told the court that between 18 November and 11 December 2025, Mahaso presided over a case involving Emmanuel Gudo and Constantine Gudo, who were charged with contravening section 97 of the Environmental Management Act for leaching gold without an Environmental Impact Assessment Report at Farm 280 Chitomborizi in Zvimba.

According to the prosecution, Nziramasanga attempted to bribe public prosecutor Brighton Machekera in connection with the case, but the offer was declined and reported to investigators. Nziramasanga was allegedly friends with Constantine Gudo, who was wanted by police but was not reported for arrest. Instead, Nziramasanga and Mahaso visited the mining site on 29 November in the company of Constantine Gudo, who remained at large, for purposes unrelated to the court proceedings.

During the visit, Nziramasanga allegedly threatened informants, claiming he was a high-ranking court official with significant influence. On 11 December, Mahaso acquitted Emmanuel Gudo.

The state argued that the magistrate and prison officer's actions, including the visit to the farm with a wanted person and the subsequent acquittal, were inconsistent with their duties as public officers and amounted to an abuse of power.