High Court assessor jailed for soliciting US$1,974 bribe in Bulawayo

Bulawayo Magistrates Court

BULAWAYO — A 64‑year‑old High Court assessor, Ceaser Nkomo, has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment after a Bulawayo court found him guilty of soliciting a bribe of US$1,974 from a member of the public in exchange for promising to upload the complainant’s case onto the Judicial Service Commission system. Nkomo was convicted alongside an accomplice, 30‑year‑old Shingirai Mpungu, who remains at large. The case was heard before Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Maphosa, and prosecutors relied on electronic transaction records and witness testimony to secure the conviction.

The State told the court that the complainant had filed a civil matter at the Bulawayo High Court under HC1424/21 in 2021, but later discovered the case was no longer on the court roll. In 2024, the complainant visited the High Court to seek reinstatement and met Nkomo, who promised to assist.

Nkomo allegedly told the complainant a US$20 search fee was required and later introduced him to Mpungu, falsely presenting the younger man as a High Court registrar. The accused repeatedly demanded money via calls and messages. On several occasions, the complainant sent funds via EcoCash and, at one point, made a direct payment, bringing the total lost to US$1,974.

Investigators established that the bribe payments were received through EcoCash, and evidence showed Mpungu was not employed at the High Court, prompting the complainant to report the matter to the police.

Magistrate Maphosa sentenced Nkomo to eight years’ imprisonment, suspending two years on condition of good behaviour and suspending a further one year provided Nkomo pays restitution to the complainant by 30 June. The effective custodial term to be served is five years. Prosecutor Owen Mugari urged a harsh sentence, arguing that Nkomo’s conduct had brought the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) into disrepute.

“His actions have soiled the reputation of the JSC, as bribery is a serious offence. A custodial sentence is the only appropriate punishment for this crime, which has become a cancer threatening the fabric of society,” Mugari told the court.

Magistrate Maphosa noted Nkomo had deliberately misled the complainant, repeatedly claiming he was with a judge at the Gweru Circuit Court when contacted.

The State said Nkomo was a repeat offender, with a prior conviction for theft in 2016. The conviction and sentence underscore the courts’ stance that corruption and the abuse of judicial office will attract custodial penalties, particularly where public trust in judicial institutions is at stake.

Legal observers said the case highlights vulnerabilities in informal access to court processes and the need for clear public guidance on legitimate channels for case enquiries and reinstatement. Authorities continue to seek Shingirai Mpungu, and investigations remain ongoing.

Bulawayo assessor jailed bribe 2026