Three Journalists Nabbed in US$300 Extortion Scandal
Three journalists have been dragged before the Harare Magistrates’ Court over allegations of extorting US$300 from a senior official at the Zimbabwe Copyright Centre (ZICCD), under the guise of suppressing a damaging fraud exposé.
Desire Tshuma (47) of Observer News, Simbarashe Sithole (36), and Gideon Madzikatidze (38), both of Bulawayo24 News, stand accused of coercing Tafadzwa Tembura into paying hush money after claiming they had obtained evidence implicating him in the mismanagement of over US$20,000 in employee funds.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), Tshuma initiated contact with Tembura on April 15 via WhatsApp, identifying himself as a journalist investigating corruption allegations.
He allegedly demanded US$100 in exchange for shelving the article—an amount which Tembura paid during a meeting in central Harare.
The following day, Tshuma returned accompanied by Sithole and Madzikatidze.
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After pressing for more money under the pretext of “lunch,” they reportedly squeezed out another US$100 from Tembura.
On April 22, Sithole allegedly reignited pressure with another message, and the next day, Tshuma forwarded a draft article written by the two Bulawayo24 reporters, threatening to publish the claims unless more money changed hands.
Sensing he was being extorted, Tembura alerted the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which swiftly set up a sting operation.
On April 23, the trio was busted red-handed while accepting US$100 in trap money at the original meeting spot along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.
The accused were each granted US$100 bail and are expected back in court on May 28, 2025, as investigations continue.
