By Dr Masimba Mavaza
Harare mayor Councillor Adv Jacob Mafume has been arrested for trying to bribe the chief witness in the case for which he is on bail.
Mafume was arrested during his routine remand at Harare Magistrates Court.
He is currently on Z$30 000 bail facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
He will now face another charge of obstructing the course of Justice which is in essence Witness tempering.
Witness tampering is the act of attempting to improperly influence, alter or prevent the testimony of witnesses within criminal or civil proceedings.
Witness tampering and reprisals against witnesses in organized crime cases have been a difficulty faced by prosecutors; witness protection programs were one response to this problem.
In most Corruption cases witnesses are intimidated or actually killed. With the violent trend exhibited by MDC the police have to take these charges seriously.
Mafume is currently detained at CID Fraud where he is helping the police with investigations.
Vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
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