Magistrate up for US$150 bribe

A Mutare senior magistrate accused of soliciting a bribe from a litigant in exchange for a favourable court ruling appeared in court on Tuesday, with the State outlining explosive allegations of judicial misconduct, threats and abuse of office.

Xavier Chipato, 33, is facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer under Section 174(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, after allegedly demanding US$150 from a woman involved in a civil dispute before his court.

The allegations relate to events between May 9 and July 17, 2025, while Chipato was serving as a senior magistrate at Mutare Civil Magistrates' Court.

The trial opened before regional magistrate Sekai Chiwundura, with the State led by prosecutor Tirivanhu Mutyasira.

According to the prosecution, Chipato allegedly solicited the money from Juliet Vera, who was a defendant in civil matter MTCG135/25, promising to influence proceedings in her favour.

The State alleges that on July 6, 2025, Chipato initiated private contact with Vera and provided her with his personal mobile number.

A day later, he allegedly telephoned her demanding what he described as a "token of appreciation" amounting to US$150 in exchange for setting aside the case against her on grounds of improper service of summons.

Prosecutor Mutyasira told the court that call history records marked as Annexure B would be tendered as evidence to support the allegations.

The court heard that Chipato allegedly ruled on July 7, 2025, that the summons in the civil matter had indeed been improperly served — precisely the outcome he is accused of promising Vera in exchange for payment.

The prosecution further alleges that only hours after delivering that ruling, Chipato repeatedly contacted Vera through WhatsApp calls demanding the money.

In another startling allegation, the State claims Vera later bought alcohol worth US$25 for Chipato through an associate identified as Roger Muzimba, who allegedly acted as an intermediary between the two.

Call records marked as Annexure C are expected to be produced in court as part of the prosecution's evidence.

Mutyasira also told the court that tensions escalated after Vera allegedly failed to pay the requested amount.

On July 12, 2025, Chipato allegedly threatened her, warning that she would "never win a civil case" and that he would "deal with her" in future proceedings if she refused to comply with his financial demands.

The State further alleges that when the matter returned to court on July 17, Chipato denied Vera an opportunity to present her defence, accused her of wasting the court's time and swiftly ruled against her.

He allegedly ordered her to vacate her shop and settle the debt being claimed against her.

Prosecutors argue that the magistrate's actions constituted a gross abuse of judicial office and an unlawful attempt to obtain personal financial benefit through manipulation of court proceedings.

Chipato is alternatively facing a bribery charge under Section 170(1)(a)(i) of the same Act.

The matter continues before the court.