Minister of Home Affairs and Culture Obert Mpofu has been taken to court by eight immigration officers who were suspended for allegedly receiving bribes from foreigners to alter visas. The immigration officers filed an application at Bulawayo High Court challenging their suspension and pending disciplinary hearings.
They want an order nullifying their suspensions and directing Mpofu to cancel disciplinary hearings against them. They were suspended without pay and benefits. They say that the disciplinary hearing has been delayed for 12 months and has affected their lives since they are not receiving salaries. The officers were arrested on fraud charges following an audit at three ports of entry. The matter is still pending before the court. The immigration officers, acting separately, allegedly attended to visitors from different countries and recorded lesser amounts in receipt books and pocketed the difference thereby prejudicing the State of varying amounts of money.
Apart from Mpofu, the eight also cite Principal Director of Immigration Control, Mr Clemence Masango, the Secretary of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Ms Pretty Sunguro, the paymaster of the Salary Services Bureau, Mr Brighton Chiuzingo and one Mr K Makiwa, who is the director of pensions in the PSC as respondents.
More: Chronicle
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