A Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officer is facing disciplinary action after being caught accepting a US$3 bribe at the Harare Magistrates Court on Friday.
The officer, identified only as Dzamara, was observed by ZPCS internal security receiving the money from an unidentified woman.
Dzamara justified what she had done, saying the woman had asked her to provide the money to a suspect who needed it for personal use. After more examination, it was discovered that Dzamara had multiple names scrawled on her hand, each of which represented a person who was supposed to provide her with different items meant for inmates on remand.
Because of what was seen to be her unprofessional behavior, she was taken from the court premises and interrogated. Numerous people were interested in the situation, including a news crew from H-Metro. Dzamara begged during questioning, “Please let
I implore you to contact my husband to come.”
Dzamara clarified that she was unable to turn down the woman’s request for assistance. She was led by two female plainclothes police to a ZPCS truck for more questioning after the interrogation.
The episode has brought attention to issues with jail guard behavior and public relations, especially in the legal system.
