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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
THE founder of a local non-governmental organisation has been arrested on allegations of defrauding communal farmers and a Zanu-PF legislator of more than US$18 000 after duping them into believing that he could supply them with agricultural inputs.
Community Development Trust’s Zakeyo Chirumezani (38), based in Mvurwi, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Milton Serima charged with fraud. He duped several other people including a pastor of various amounts of money and property.
Chirumezani was remanded in custody to today for bail application.
Prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira alleged that Chirumezani defrauded communal farmers in Hurungwe, Chundu and Nyamukate areas under Chief Chundu between January 2013 and February last year.
He misrepresented that his NGO would assist them with agricultural inputs. It is alleged Chirumezani approached Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Faber Chidarikire seeking authority to distribute agricultural inputs in the province.
Acting on the misrepresentation, Cde Chidarikire gave Chirumezani the green light to distribute the inputs.
Armed with a letter of authority written by Cde Chidarikire, the accused allegedly approached Chief Chundu, Abel Mbasera, purporting to represent a legitimate NGO and convinced him to rally villagers behind the programme.
Several farmers under Chief Chundu are said to have contributed us$192 each for 16x50kg bags of fertiliser totalling us$17 413.
The money was paid to Chirumezani by the chief’s aide only identified as Chigumbura, through Eco-cash transfer.
Chirumezani is said to have also approached Hurungwe East legislator Cde Sarah Mahoka with the same fraudulent scheme and convinced her to give him us$1 000 which he said was for the transportation of the fertiliser from a Mvurwi depot to Hurungwe.
The court heard that Cde Mahoka gave Chirumezani the money which was paid by a councillor only identified as Ndlovu through EcoCash into the accused person’s number.
Chirumezani also approached Pastor Rudgeson Makonye and misrepresented to him that he was the training co-ordinator for Community Development Trust and was in need of 1 500 literature books to train 1 500 pastors, it is alleged.
He was allegedly given 200 books valued at us$1 000 on credit on the understanding that Pastor Makonye would collect his payment after two days at Chirumezani’s offices in Mvurwi.
When the man of the cloth went to the said offices after two days, he discovered that the offices were non-existent.
Chirumezani is alleged to have proceeded to Kariba where he met Nicholas Matomba and introduced his organisation.
He allegedly ordered 70 tonnes of kapenta fish on the pretext he wanted to distribute them to underprivileged families in Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces.
The court heard that Matomba supplied Chirumezani with 2 400kg of kapenta fish valued at us$17 500 after agreeing that the latter would deposit the money into the complainant’s bank account.
He further approached Advance Pasca and told him he was in need of three sets of sofas for use during his meetings with donors, it is alleged.
He was given sofas valued at us$2 810 on credit but failed to pay as per agreement.
Online Reporter