Magistrate bribed to alter charge in Leo Mugabe case

By Lance Guma
21 October 2005

Officials in the justice ministry have sensationally revealed that the judge dealing with Robert Mugabe’s nephew Leo, arrested Tuesday on allegations of smuggling scarce flour to neighbouring Mozambique, has in fact received a Z$100 million bribe to alter the charges. The deal is said to have been brokered by Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Innocent Matibiri, another nephew to Robert Mugabe. The money allegedly changed hands via a marriage officer at the courts known only as Mboko. Matibiri also brokered Leo’s secret release from custody.
As a result Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe, the beneficiary, has also consented to Leo and his wife Veronica arriving in court from the comfort of their home. To try and hide the preferential treatment authorities drove them to court in a police land-rover and made it look as if they had just been whisked to court from remand prison. The charge sheet initially made reference to ‘illegal exportation’ and left room for an alternative charge of ‘dealing in controlled products’. This has allegedly been whittled down to just fraud.
Leo and his wife apparently own a bakery in Harare and used that as an excuse to order large sums of wheat and flour which in turn they smuggled to Mozambique. Sources say the charge is now that they merely defrauded the Grain Marketing Board as opposed to the more serious ‘illegal exportation’ or dealing in controlled products, which falls under serious economic crimes.
The Harare Magistrate also granted the businessman Z$50 million bail. Leo’s wife also has to pay the same bail amount. Its alleged this was also fixed in advance in much the same way they were removed from the holding cells. As directors of the company that sold the flour they were both asked to surrender their passports and report to a local police station twice a week. They can leave their house only to attend court or with the consent or company of the investigating officer. Their next appearance in court is scheduled for the 9th November.

Leo Mugabe is one of Mugabe’s three relatives sitting in the current parliament. Partrick Zhuwawo and Sabina Mugabe (Mugabe’s sister) and Leo’s mother are the others. The treatment Leo has received is in stark contrast to other prominent Zimbabweans who have had to endure long periods in remand prison while the state dragged its feet over prosecution. Former finance minister, Dr Christopher Kuruneri and businessman James Makamba being prime examples.