HARARE - A Harare magistrate has jailed  a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative who extorted $2 000 from Zifa boss Jonathan Mashingaidze as a “protection fee” for his supposed political links to the mainstream MDC and role in the Asiagate scandal.

Magistrate Tendai Mahwe yesterday slapped Richard Mubaiwa with a 36-month-prison term, before suspending 12 months on condition of good behaviour for the next five years.

Mubaiwa was being charged together with his nephew who is a Banket farmer, John Chari.
 
Chari was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

He got another four-month-prison term, accumulating from last year’s sentence when he was convicted on defeating the course of justice and theft of trust property charges.

Magistrate Mahwe said Mubaiwa’s actions tarnished the image of the CIO.

“Your actions tarnished the image of the President’s office as people will begin to view it as an office that kills people. Your conduct is deplorable,” said Mahwe in passing sentence.

The two were accused of extorting $2 000 from Mashingaidze after a prior demand of $10 000, which they said was to ensure his protection.

Mubaiwa told Mashingaidze that he had a file containing pictures of Fifa president Sepp Blatter, President Robert Mugabe, Prime minister (PM) Morgan Tsvangirai and Zifa president Cuthbert Dube.

He accused Mashingaidze of having pictures of the PM in his Zifa office, which he said could be an indication that he is a member of the mainstream MDC. — Tendai Kamhungira