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25
Apr
Apr
3 Journalists in Courtroom for Alleged Extortion Over Mistaken Data Threat
Cybercrime
3 Journalists in Courtroom for Alleged Extortion Over Mistaken Data Threat
Three journalists — Desire Tshuma (47) of Observer Data, and Simbarashe Sithole (36) and Gideon Madzikatidze (38) of Bulawayo24 Data — acquire regarded earlier than the Harare Magistrates’ Courtroom, going by extortion prices.
Consistent with the Issue, it all started on 15 April 2025 when Tshuma contacted Tafadzwa Tembura, a senior official at the Zimbabwe Copyright Centre (ZICCD), by WhatsApp. The usage of a NetOne quantity, Tshuma launched himself as a journalist from Observer Data and claimed he was investigating a fraud case inspiring Tembura and better than US$20,000 in mismanaged group funds.
Tshuma allegedly equipped to drop the tale in commerce for US$100. Tembura agreed and handed over the cash all the very most sensible way by a gathering along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue in Harare.
However the calls for didn’t end there.
The following day, Tshuma returned — this time with Sithole and Madzikatidze, who talked about they had been with Bulawayo24 Data. The trio allegedly forced Tembura to aquire them lunch and pay one more US$100, bringing the general paid to US$200.
On 16 April, Tshuma attach of residing up one more meeting, this time underneath the guise of getting Tembura’s aspect of the tale. But as a replace of a stunning interview, the threats reportedly persevered.
Then on 22 April, Sithole allegedly despatched one more message to preserve rigidity, and a day later, Tshuma forwarded a draft article — talked about to be written by Sithole and Madzikatidze — containing negative allegations. The message reportedly came with a warning: if no further payment was made, the tale would be published.
Suspecting extortion, Tembura alerted the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Rate (ZACC), which attach of residing up a sting operation.
On 23 April, all three journalists had been caught crimson-handed at the identical Kwame Nkrumah Avenue jam, allegedly accepting one more US$100 in trap cash.
They had been every granted US$100 bail and are due abet in courtroom on 28 Might well also 2025.
Coming from an extended line of tv and radio personalities, it was simplest pure for Chris Matambanadzo to venture into the media location. Chris is an avid reader who fancies himself a thinker and poet. He is anime, music and movies.
