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Yeukai Karengezeka–Court Correspondent
Cotton Company of Zimbabwe Limited (Cottco) acting managing director Munyaradzi Chikasha yesterday appeared in court on allegations of corruptly hiring his own trucks to transport Cottco goods.
Using the hire fees, the State alleges that Chikasha has now acquired two more trucks that are yet to be registered and financed the building of his house in Mutare, buying building materials using proceeds of the crime.
Chikasha (46) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube charged with corruptly concealing interest in a personal transaction and money laundering.
He is represented by Mr Admire Rubaya and Mr Stephen Chikotora.
The State through its witness, investigating officer Arthur Murambiza, opposed bail, but magistrate Ncube admitted him to US$100 bail and remanded him to June 12.
Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that during 2021, Chikasha who was then employed as the business manager at Cottco Chiredzi depot, devised a plan to have his trucks contracted to ferry Cottco goods and so he would benefit financially without disclosing his personal interests in the transactions to Cottco.
He allegedly bought two trucks with registration numbers AEZ 7795 and AFQ 3451 and went on to register the trucks in the name of his nephew, Tapiwa Joshua Chabata.
Chikasha instructed Chabata to open a bank account with BancABC under his name where the payments would be made.
Chikasha went on to conclude contracts between Chabata and Cottco Chiredzi Depot for transportation services under the guise that the trucks belonged to Chabata when in fact they belonged to him.
Under this contract, Chikasha’s trucks were then used to transport Cottco goods and the trucks were being assigned routes with well-maintained roads.
The payment for the services rendered by the trucks were received promptly under the instruction of Chikasha, even when most transporters were still owed for their services.
According to the State, investigations carried out so far have established that Chikasha did not disclose this personal interest to the Cottco board, his employer.
The concealment of the ownership of the trucks was done by Chikasha in a bid to illegally benefit from his employer and conceal the illicit origins of his funds.
The total value of prejudice is yet to be ascertained.
Online Reporter