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A Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Ethiopia, Bishop Mzukisi Banzana has lost his appeal challenging his conviction and subsequent 12-year prison sentence imposed in 2017 for corruption.
The National Prosecuting Authority said that Bishop Banzana’s appeal was dismissed by the Grahamstown Division of the High Court.
NPA spokesperson, Anelisa Ngcakani, said subsequently, a notice was issued for Bishop Banzana to hand himself to prison authorities in order to commence with his sentence.
She said Banzana was the manager of Mzingisi Development Trust founded by the late ANC veteran Govan Mbeki which built RDP houses in Port Elizabeth.
“He received kickbacks in (the) form of various cash amounts and four guaranteed cheques from a construction firm he allegedly awarded housing construction tenders to. He, in turn, used the cheques to purchase three vehicles and settled his bond account of R1.4 million.”
Ngcakani said that the Grahamstown High Court held that Banzana admitted having received some personal benefit from the monies received and there could no other way to describe the conduct of Banzana other than it being a gratification in terms of the Corruption Act.
