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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A Harare magistrate has set June 24 as the trial date for suspended Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive Happison Muchechetere, who is facing charges of swindling the broadcaster of US$800 000 when he allegedly inflated the price of an Outside Broadcasting Van (OBV) procured from China.
Muchechetere (63), out of custody on US$3 000 bail, appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe yesterday and was remanded to June 24 for trial on fraud charges.
The complainant in the matter is ZBC, represented by its general manager and acting CEO Mr Allan Chiweshe.
Prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira alleged that on January 18 last year, Muchechetere — without going to tender — entered into a procurement deal with a Chinese company for the purchase an audio OBV for US$1 050 000.
On April 23 last year, Muchechetere allegedly misrepresented to ZBC’s executive committee that US$495 000 donated by BancABC was enough to purchase an audio van, a cargo van and a crew bus; and the committee approved the purchase of the items.
The State alleged that Muchechetere did not disclose to the committee that he had already entered into a deal for only one item, the OBV.
It is the State’s case that Muchechetere flew to China and signed the agreement.
The OBV was delivered in August 2013 after BancABC released US$100 000 to the Chinese company.
The alleged crime was discovered after Muchechetere’s suspension in November last year when it was established that the OBV had a market value of US$350 000, contrary to the US$1 050 000 he had stated.
Online Reporter