Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
HURUNGWE Rural District Council engineer, Romeo Mupamaonde and his assistant Alfred Makama, have been sentenced to 18 years in prison each for defrauding the council of US$17 990 meant for the construction of the Chehoko Causeway bridge.
They were sentenced alongside Anstand Investments (Pvt) Ltd director Batsirayi Nyamayaro.
The court found that in June 2022, Anstand Investments won a tender with Hurungwe RDC to build the Chehoko Causeway bridge for US$17 990.
However, instead of executing the work, Nyamayaro colluded with Mupamaonde and Makama to hire Kainos Mupiwa to construct the bridge.
Mupiwa built the bridge with the help of the community, which provided free labour and was paid US$1 450.
Mupamaonde, Makama and Nyamayaro were each sentenced to 18 years in prison, with three years suspended for five years on condition they do not commit any offence involving dishonesty.
They were also ordered to pay a fine of US$5 000 each.
Anstand Investments was also fined US$5 000. In the event of non-payment, the Registrar of the High Court has been directed to issue a writ of execution, empowering the Sheriff to seize and auction the company’s property to recover the amount.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission arrested the trio, along with Hurungwe chief executive Luke Kalavina, in 2023.
However, the court acquitted Kalavina of any wrongdoing in this case, but is in custody pending sentence on July 18 on separate charges.
