admin
Herald Reporter
A bogus Karoi war veteran has been sentenced to 12 months in jail for defrauding the War Veterans Fund of over US$11 000 in gratuity and monthly pensions since 1997. Magistrate Mr Obidience Matare, however, had two months of the sentence suspended on condition that Peter Ncube (53) of Willgeen Village under Chief Mujinga completes 70 hours of community service at Madzimoyo Primary School beginning last Wednesday.
The remaining 10 months were also suspended on condition that Ncube restitutes the State of US$11 576, 25 by June 16 2014.
Ncube’s fraud case emanated in 1997 when he misrepresented to a Pfupajena Primary School-based mobile team that was registering war veterans in Chegutu, Mashonaland West.
After Ncube passed the interviews, he then subsequently received, through his Central African Building Society Bank account, an equivalent of US$2 981,51 and US$8 594,74 from the State as war veterans gratuity and monthly pension.
Ncube’s pension was only terminated after an Inter-ministerial Investigating Team (IMIT) visited him in 2009 following reports, through anonymous letters, that he was a bogus war veteran.
The findings by IMIT also established that he was not a war combatant as spelt out in the War Veterans Act; “One who underwent military training and participated constantly and persistently in the liberation struggle which occurred in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries between January 1, 1962 and February 29, 1980 in connection with bringing about independence on April 18, 1980.”
In investigating Ncube’s case, IMIT which comprised Cdes Silas Siziba, Ezekiel Shumba, Stanford Kabvimbwa, Brian Mafonolokoto and Roughshadow Hudson experienced a hard time as he ran away each time they visited him.
Although IMIT later ordered Ncube to reimburse the war veterans fund then, he failed to do so leading to his arrest on October 27, 2010.
In his defence, Ncube cited dead people as his witnesses and was represented by law firm Antonio and Associates.
Online Reporter