admin
Tawanda Mangoma in CHIREDZI
Former organising secretary for the General Agriculture Workers Union of Zimbabwe Canaan Mutambe (38) has appeared before a Chiredzi resident magistrate facing 16 counts of fraud, 23 counts of theft and three counts of forgery.Prosecutor Mr Prosper Chipangura told magistrate Mr Honest Musiyiwa that on December 20, 2011, Mutambe approached Cane Lands Trust and instructed them to stop depositing member affiliation fees into the union’s bank account.
He allegedly instructed the company to use his personal bank account or make electronic transfers to Thirtish Investments’ account, a company he owned.
Mr Chipangura said Cane Lands Trust obliged and deposited various amounts totalling US$52 032,18 into the accounts.
On February 6, 2012, it is alleged, Mutambe went to Cane Lands Farm in Hippo Valley with a letter bearing the signature of Gwapuz secretary-general Mr Gift Muti.
The letter instructed Cane Land Trust to deposit money into Mutambe’s personal accounts or hand him the cash.
The alleged scam came to light only after Cane Land Trust queried the authenticity of the directive, with Mr Muti distancing himself from the letter.
The court also heard that Mutambe went to Arda Nandi in Chiredzi and employed the same trick to get US$1 092 in cash.
He also allegedly collected US$1 785 from Chiredzi Wildlife Management using the same method.
Mutambe, who was represented by lawyer Mr Charles Vhudzi, was remanded to June 13 on US$1 000 bail.
Online Reporter