Moses Madyira

Mirror Reporter

Chivhu – Suspended Chikomba District Development Co-ordinator, Michael Mariga lost his balance when he was put under cross examination at Chivhu Magistrates Court yesterday where he is facing allegations of bribe.

Mariga who is supposed to have a first Degree told the court that he doesn’t understand the meaning of the word dropped.

Mariga had earlier refused that he received US$60 from Theresa Dangwa, the director of Dangwa Initiatives Trust and instead said that the money was dropped on his papers.

The Mirror also attended the court session. 

However, under cross examination, Mariga was told that the money was found inside his papers and asked how it could have been dropped there. He then turned around and said he wanted to say that the money was put inside the papers rather than dropped.

He said he did not understand the meaning of the word drop and added that it could be a question of semantics.

Corence Chimbadzwa is prosecuting and Provincial Magistrate, Sam Chitumwa is hearing the case.

Mariga also told the court that he did not understand what the investigating officer Martin Kadzimu meant by ‘vigorous searching’. He said he understood the word to mean that people were going to be stripped naked and searched. 

He also said that he didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘struggle’ after the prosecutor told him that the investigating officer said it was a struggle to retrieve money from the accused. 

Mariga was arrested by Police at Chikomba RDC offices soon after he receiving US$60 which was marked. He had allegedly demanded the money from Dangwa who wanted to sign a memorandum of understanding for her NGO.

The case continues today.https://masvingomirror.com