The ManicaPost
Tapiwa Mushonga Post Correspondent
A CLERK of Court at Rusape Magistrates’ Court has been arrested after she allegedly forged receipt books for monies paid in fines by litigants and converted it to her own use.
Britt Zambara (35) of Vengere, Rusape on Wednesday appeared before Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe charged with criminal abuse of office.
Mutare provincial magistrate Sekai Benhilda Chiundura is representing the State as the complainant in the matter.
Reports are that Zambara was stationed at Rusape magistrates’ court since 2013 where she was sometimes assigned to perform accounting duties. Her duties included receipting monies paid in fines by litigants.
It is the State’s case that on February 3, 2014, Michael Kunaka appeared before a Rusape magistrate who convicted him of culpable homicide. Kunaka was then fined $700 or risk being jailed for 55 days. He was also prohibited from driving for two years.
Kunaka is said to have paid the fine to Zambara who was on the fines desk.
Allegations are that Zambara failed to record the payment with reports that the transaction was not recorded in the Rusape Magistrates’ court record books.
In a bid to conceal her botched transaction, Zambara is said to have erased Kunaka’s name from the Court’s Index Book and replaced it with a fictitious name, Maidei Chiwaka.
The State further alleges that Zambara went on to alter the court’s record book on the same entry number.
Prosecutor Chris Munyuki said the matter came to light following a tip-off.
Investigations were made leading to the recovery of a court record book with removed pages.
Zambara was subsequently arrested and taken to court facing criminal abuse of office charges.
