Moses Madyira

Chivhu – The trial of Chikomba District Development Coordinator Michael Mariga was abruptly adjourned on Wednesday after his lawyer Tafara Nsingo complained of a splitting headache as witnesses piled evidence against his client.

At around 12am after the trial had gone on from 10am, Nsingo complained of a splitting headache and Provincial Magistrate Sam Chitumwa had to adjourn the case to February 8, 2022.

The Mirror attended the hearing.

Two key witnesses, the investigating Police officer and Chikomba Rural District Council CEO Bullen Chiwara had both just given incriminating evidence against Mariga when the lawyer complained of the headache.

Chiwara distanced himself from a letter that Mariga produced in court purporting to come from council. The letter said that Teresa Dangwa of Dangwa Initiative Trust who reported bribe allegations against Mariga was supposed to pay money to council for lunches.

Chiwara said that there was no such payment that was supposed to be made to council by Dangwa. Chiwara also dismissed assertions by Nsingo that Dangwa dropped the money on Mariga’s belongings and instead alleged that Mariga was handed over the money by Dangwa and hid it in his papers.

Soon after Chiwara, the investigating cop, Martin Kadzimu who set the trap against Mariga told the magistrate that it took a while for Mariga to produce the money he allegedly received as bribe.

Kadzimu said when he went into the office to get the marked money, he called out three times before Mariga finally produced it from his paperwork. He said that Mariga only produced the money after he (Kadzimu) had threatened to thoroughly search the whole office.

Mariga is facing bribery charges after he allegedly demanded US$150 to facilitate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between an NGO called Dangwa Intiative Trust and Chikomba RDC.

Dangwa who was supposed to pay the bribe reported the matter to Police and a trap was set inside Chikomba RDC offices. Mariga was nabbed by members from the CID just after receiving marked US$60 from Dangwa.

The trial continues today.

The state was represented by Corence Chimbadzwa.https://masvingomirror.com