ZESA employee in court for bribery

A ZESA Holdings worker stationed at Zengeza 2 base station, Wellington Tsaurai Chinyemba (37), has appeared in court on allegations of soliciting a bribe from a client who had connected electricity illegally at his house.

Chinyemba was facing bribery charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Jessie Kufa.

He was granted US$100 bail. The court heard that on March 14, 2026, Chinyemba visited house number 6688 Gakava Close, St Mary's, Chitungwiza and saw a tenant at the house, Tsvakirai Tembo.

The accused person said that the property was connected illegally to the ZESA supply grid and he intended to disconnect the electricity supply to the house.

The court heard that Chinyemba then disconnected the household from the ZESA grid and gave Tembo his contact number 0775 225 367 to pass on to Clever Mpofu, the owner of the house.

Tembo gave the complainant Chinyemba's mobile number. The complainant called Chinyemba, who advised him that approximately US$550 in fines was due and owing to ZESA because of such illegal connections.

Chinyemba indicated that he could assist the complainant in clearing the amounts due and in reconnecting electricity if he gave him US$300.

On March 16 2026, the complainant went to the ZESA loss control office and met Shepherd Mabunjwa, who advised him that what the accused person had suggested was unprocedural.

The complainant then reported the accused to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission offices.

It is the State's case that on March 17 2026, a trap was set for the accused. Chinyemba was instructed to contact the complainant on mobile and suggest that they meet at ZESA Training Centre in Belvedere, Harare, so that he could give him the US$300 bribe.

The complainant was given three US$100 notes with serial numbers, PE 61033797 E, PE 28701063 E and PB 82410349 M.

The complainant and a team from ZAAC proceeded to the rendezvous at the ZESA Training Centre visitors' car park in Belvedere.

A few minutes later, Chinyemba walked to the vehicle of the complainant a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and was handed the trap money by the complainant. Upon receipt of the money, the team intercepted Chinyemba.

The ZAAC officials introduced themselves, searched the accused person and recovered the trap money from the left back pocket of his jean trousers.

The trap authority and photocopies of the trap money were subsequently shown to the accused person and he was arrested.

Further investigations conducted revealed that Chinyemba had visited the next household sometime in November 2025, saying that there was a faulty connection.

The accused person attempted to fix the problem. It was further established that the accused person did not have any paperwork and did not leave behind any notification of what he had done.