Two Environmental Management Agency (EMA) officials from Mashonaland Central province, Shepherd Maranga and Tsaurai Gwarinda were on Sunday exonerated of bribe charges the State had raised against them.
The provincial magistrate said that the State had failed to present enough evidence to incriminate the accused.
The State had alleged that the Maranga and Gwarinda had asked for a $600 bribe from a Lion of Judah mining syndicate, Richlands Farm in Shamva which they had found without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate.
A ticket for operating without the certificate cost $5000. Edmore Mazembe, who is the mine manager at the Lion of Judah Mining Syndicate reportedly gave them $400 leaving a balance of $200.
The State further alleges that Chief Superintend Murenje authorised the photocopying of $150 bond notes on 20 March to trap the duo. Maranga was arrested at Bindura-Harare road after he received the trap money.
He went on to implicate his co-accused Gwarinda who was also arrested.
More: News Day
WhatsApp Group: 
Telegram Group:
Back to top