Magistrate Evia Matura Jailed 18 Months For Criminal Abuse Of Office

A Bulawayo magistrate, Evia Matura (47), has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for criminal abuse of office after unlawfully releasing an accused person in a high-profile fraud case without a valid bail application, reported ZBC News.

Six months of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving her to serve an effective 18 months.

The court heard that on 2 July 2025 at Tredgold Magistrates’ Court, Matura, in her capacity as a presiding magistrate, ordered the release of former legislator Obert Manduna, who was facing fraud charges, despite having previously denied him bail on 25 June.

The State argued that no new bail application had been filed, nor had there been any change in circumstances, a High Court order, or a bail receipt to justify reconsideration of bail.

Prosecutors said Matura acted outside established judicial procedure, thereby granting Manduna an irregular release.

Matura was charged with criminal abuse of office under Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and appeared before Regional Magistrate Mark Dzira.

She was granted US$200 bail and ordered to report to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) every two weeks.

As part of her bail conditions, she was barred from contacting witnesses, ordered to reside at her given address, and prohibited from entering Tredgold Magistrates’ Court until the matter is finalised.

The case relates to Manduna’s fraud charges over a residential stand transaction allegedly carried out between October 2020 and February 2022.

He is accused of using a forged power of attorney to defraud a woman of nearly US$6,000 in a failed property sale involving Stand Number 7278 in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo.

The State alleges Manduna falsely claimed authority to sell the stand, which had already been repossessed by the Bulawayo City Council, while the alleged owner had not authorised the transaction.

By the time the fraud was discovered, the complainant had paid US$5,900, which has not been recovered.

Prosecutors also told the court that Manduna had previously evaded ZACC investigations and was considered a flight risk.