Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A Gweru Council (GCC) accounting assistant has landed in trouble after allegedly demanding a US$400 bribe from a resident, in order to clear a water bill of approximately US$1 400 from the council’s system.
The new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system was developed to manage the local authority’s various business processes.
Elford Musikavanhu (54), an accounting assistant at the local authority, recently appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Ms Beaulity Dube, for initial remand.
He is facing one count of criminal abuse of office after allegedly soliciting a bribe to obliterate an outstanding water bill from the council’s records.
Musikavanhu was remanded out of custody on US$100 bail to 1 July.
According to the State’s case, as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Fredrick Matsheza, the complainant is the State, represented by Mr Tedius Mashakada, a ratepayer.
The court heard that Musikavanhu has been employed as an accounting assistant at the local authority since 2008 and is stationed at the Mtapa offices.
The incident reportedly occurred in early June, when Mr Mashakada received a final demand letter from Gweru City Council indicating that his water bill was long overdue and urging him to settle the amount.
“The complainant proceeded to the council offices and was referred to the Mtapa offices where the accused is based.
“There, he met one Lindinkosi Moyo, who informed him that the bill amounted to approximately US$1 400 and that there were two metres registered under his account,” said Mr Matsheza.
The court heard that Moyo introduced Mr Mashakada to Musikavanhu, describing him as his superior and supervisor. Moyo then explained the complainant’s situation to Musikavanhu.
“The accused invited the complainant into his office and acting contrary to and inconsistent with his official duties, unlawfully demanded US$400 to clear the water bill, threatening that the council would otherwise attach the complainant’s property to recover the debt,” said Mr Matsheza.
The complainant reportedly told Musikavanhu he would try to raise the money and contact him once he had done so.
On 16 June, Mr Mashakada reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) offices in Gweru, where he provided a statement and a trap authority was sought and granted.
Zacc officers Adrian Zinyama, Sandra Ngwende, Tatenda Tsunga and Innocent Mapa successfully carried out the sting operation.
“The accused was handed US$300 in marked US$20 bills and was subsequently arrested at Total Service Station in Mtapa while in a silver Toyota Corolla. He later signed the trap authority,” said Mr Matsheza.
“Investigations confirmed that the accused is an accounting assistant with access to water bills and account records.
“It was also established that he had arranged to meet the complainant for the purpose of collecting the US$400 bribe he had demanded.”
