NGO swindled of US$47 000

magistrate Mrs Olivia Mariga. He was remanded out of custody on US$100 bail, to November 8,
Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira alleges that sometime in 2006, Mazambani allegedly submitted three project proposals on behalf of a company called Avila, which is into Jatropha processing at Fombe Irrigation and Nyandoro Poetry project.
The three proposals, it is alleged, went through the evaluation process and were subsequently considered for funding.
Mr Chakurira alleges that it was agreed the funds were to be deposited into the three projects’ Standard Bank accounts where Mazambani is one of the signatories.
In February 2010, GEF approved an allocation of US$17 738, 10, US$18 361, 80 and US$18 569, 25 that was released in four batches of 30 percent for the first three payments and a final 10 percent.
Mazambani, it is alleged, appealed with the organisation not to stagger the payments.
A total of US$54 669, 15 was released on March 17 from UNDP’s Bank of America account into the three accounts, it alleged.
Mazambani allegedly diverted the funds and invited other signatories representing the three projects.
He caused them to sign blank withdrawal slips in advance which he purported was for later withdrawal, the court was told.
On November 2 last year, GEF national co-ordinator Ms Tsitsi Wutaunashe carried out an audit of the projects.
She allegedly discovered that US$47 539, 15 could not be accounted for while US$7 130 was recovered.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Mazambani’s arrest.