Herald reporter held over bribery allegations

Harare - Sources at Herald House said officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) burst into the newsroom and arrested Brena Chigonga for demanding bribes from evangelists, a Mathias and one Mildred Madzivanzira of the Mathis and Mildred Ministries who have been accused of running a Satanist cult.

On February 10 this year, the Herald carried a report by a gossip columnist, revealing that Madzivanzira had shot dead his maid after she stumbled on "juju" at his home.

The gossip columnist claimed: “Two weeks ago, a rumour doing the rounds in Harare was that the man of the cloth had fatally shot his maid at his Ruwa home. The reason? She had allegedly discovered juju in one of the rooms at the churchman's luxurious home.

"The juju, it was claimed, was meant to enhance his business empire and generate more money for him. To stop the maid from spilling the beans, the rumour mill said, Madzivanzira shot her in cold blood, leading to his arrest.

"According to the gossipers, Madzivanzira's vast wealth is linked to Satanism, a religious belief centred on the worship of the Devil.”

The report, however, went on to say it had been proved that the couple was not Satanists.

Sources said Chigonga had asked to be paid to do "damage limitation", leading to a police complaint being lodged.

No immediate comment could be obtained from the Herald. Pikirayi Deketeke, the editor, was said to be out of his office on Friday evening.

Article courtesy of New Zimbabwe