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Harmony Agere
FORMER Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Francis Gudyanga was yesterday sent to remand prison pending a bail hearing tomorrow.
Gudyanga was arrested on Friday for alleged corruption and abuse of public office; charges stemming from his stint as Secretary for Mines and Mining Development.
He appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Victoria Machaya and offered to surrender his passport, report to the police three times weekly and deposit US$200 bail.
Ms Machaya scheduled the bail ruling for tomorrow.
The State says Gudyanga dissolved the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe board in December 2013 and was, subsequently, appointed the corporation’s chair from then until September 2016.
It is alleged he abused his office by corruptly claiming and receiving board fees and sitting allowances totalling US$28 910 in contravention of the MMCZ Act (Chapter 21:04) which says a board comprises at least six members and a maximum of 10.
MMCZ, according to the State, did not have a board at the time, meaning the money was not due to him and the corporation was prejudiced of US$28 910.
Gudyanga is on record telling a Harare magistrate during the trial of MMCZ bosses that he had paid himself board fees when there was no board at the parastatal.
He said the money was not for sitting, but consultation and decision-making.
Gudyanga received US$875 monthly in board fees and sitting fees of US$460 for “sitting” 21 times.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu