Former TIMB CEO acquitted in US$2 million corruption case

Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent

Former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), Meanwell Gudu has been acquitted of criminal abuse of office charges after he was arrested for allegedly misappropriating over US$2 million.

Gudu appeared before Harare Magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa alongside his co-accused Stuart Shanyika, the former head of special services at TIMB, and Dr Andrew Evaristo Matibiri, TIMB’s former CEO.

The trio were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in September 2022.

The State alleged that the accused entered into private agreements with tobacco contractors and bypassed established procedures.

It was claimed that these actions prejudiced the RBZ of millions of dollars.

However, after almost two years of legal proceedings, the matter was withdrawn before the accused had entered a plea.