Jaison Midzi, a Zimbabwean-born political hopeful in South Australia, has pleaded guilty to forging votes in a bid to rig the 2022 council election. The 44-year-old admitted to the charges through his lawyer just before his trial was set to begin, abruptly ending a decade-long involvement with the City of Marion council and his aspirations for higher office. Midzi had campaigned for mayor on promises of lower rates and improved infrastructure, and previously sought a state-level seat to address ambulance ramping.

The guilty plea marks a dramatic fall for a figure once celebrated in the community. Midzi was nominated for Citizen of the Year in 2017 and had cultivated a reputation as a “colourful character” in local politics. Despite the serious nature of the charges, he declined to explain his motivations when questioned by reporters, instead accusing the media of spreading misinformation. His actions have cast a shadow over the integrity of the council election and raised concerns about electoral safeguards.

Midzi now faces sentencing in December, with each count of electoral forgery carrying a potential penalty of up to 12 months in prison or a $5,000 fine. He has promised to “reveal all” during the upcoming hearing, leaving the public and political observers awaiting further details. The case underscores the risks of unchecked ambition and the importance of transparency in local governance.

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