LSU Student Denies Bribing Lecturer to Secure Passing Grade
By Southerton Business Times Reporter | BULAWAYO
A Lupane State University (LSU) student has appeared before the Bulawayo Regional Court on allegations of attempting to bribe a lecturer to obtain a passing grade in a module she allegedly failed. Sibonokuhle Khumalo appeared before Regional Magistrate Taurai Manwere on Tuesday, where she pleaded not guilty to a charge of bribery. The case has been remanded to 31 July 2026 for the continuation of the trial.
Khumalo, who is represented by Simbarashe Innocent Madzivire of Mashayamombe Law Firm, denied attempting to influence the lecturer's academic assessment. The defence told the court that Khumalo and the complainant, Bekezela Chirisa, had known each other for more than five years and had an established business relationship. According to the defence, Khumalo, who is also involved in farming, regularly supplied Chirisa with agricultural produce.
Counsel submitted that in June 2025, the lecturer paid US$50 for tomatoes, but adverse weather conditions prevented Khumalo from fulfilling the order.
The defence said Khumalo later refunded US$30 via EcoCash after repeated requests from the lecturer. Lawyers argued that the mobile money transfer was solely a refund for the undelivered tomatoes and had no connection to university examinations or grading.
The prosecution presented a different account of events. Prosecutor Veronica Danai Manyuka alleged that Khumalo visited the lecturer's office and handed her US$20, allegedly suggesting she use the money to buy lunch. According to the State, the lecturer declined to accept the cash. Prosecutors further allege that shortly afterwards, Khumalo transferred US$30 to the lecturer via EcoCash.
The court heard that before making the transfer, Khumalo allegedly sent the lecturer a WhatsApp message indicating that she "had no choice" and was pleading her case. The prosecution said the lecturer questioned why the money had been sent but received no response before asking Khumalo to collect the transferred funds the following day in the presence of a colleague.
According to the State, the dispute intensified after university examination results showed that Khumalo had failed one of her modules. Prosecutors said the university scheduled supplementary examinations for affected students, but Khumalo allegedly did not sit for the supplementary examination scheduled for 19 August 2025.
Instead, the State alleges she approached the department chairperson seeking permission to write a separate examination outside the normal university procedures. The chairperson reportedly instructed the lecturer to prepare the examination, but the lecturer declined. Following the ensuing administrative dispute, the matter was reported to police, resulting in Khumalo's arrest. The allegations against Khumalo have not been proven in court, and she remains presumed innocent unless found guilty.
LSU student bribery case
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