Magistrate arrested after allegedly accepting groceries and microwave as bribe
Terence Mashaire, a senior magistrate at the Murehwa Magistrates’ Court, is charged with taking a bribe in order to influence the outcome of a trial.
The defendant, Allen Bhaswi, is accused of giving Mashaire groceries, stationery, and a Defy microwave in September 2023, according to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). The presents were allegedly offered as a thank you for the decision that favoured Bhaswi’s case.
The magistrate and Bhaswi had conversations both before and after court sessions, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Their relationship went beyond a professional one. The case ended in December 2023 with a decision that favoured Allen Bhaswi.
The stove that law enforcement officials subsequently found at Mashaire’s home served as more proof of the purported bribery.
Even after the conclusion of the case, Mashaire’s involvement did not cease. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) appealed the judgment in the Allen Bhaswi case. Mashaire reportedly continued to advise Bhaswi on the legal proceedings at the High Court. An additional allegation states that Mashaire received USD450 through Ecocash from Bhaswi.
Terence Mashaire has been remanded in custody and is set to appear in court on 4 March 2024 for a bail ruling. The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the judiciary. The potential influence of external factors on legal decisions is being questioned.