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of US$1 500 after he claimed travelling and subsistence allowances for a South African trip he did not undertake.
Edgar Gobvu (27) of Budiriro 2 in Harare was arrested recently before being released to enable police to finalise their investigations.
He was arrested after it was discovered that he gave his passport to his colleague Edward Gudhe, who is believed to have facilitated for it to be stamped at both exit and entry points.
Both Gobvu and Gudhe are Mr Tsvangirai’s personal aides who are very close to him and whom he has been taking along on various foreign trips.
Deputy national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said yesterday that Gobvu would be brought to court once investigations were complete.
“We are investigating the allegations that he fraudulently claimed traveling and subsistence allowances purporting that he was part of PM Tsvangirai’s entourage to South Africa on March 22, but in actual fact he did not undertake the journey for which he claimed US$1 500,” he said.
“When the PM’s delegation left Harare International Airport, the suspect was not part of the delegation. He remained behind and surprisingly he did not withdraw his passport from Edward Gudhe who allegedly facilitated to have Gobvu’s passport stamped by immigration officials upon departure at Harare International Airport and upon arrival and departure at OR Tambo International Airport.”
Chief Supt Mandipaka said when police received the information, they checked with the outgoing passenger manifest and discovered that Gobvu’s name was appearing on the list.
Police further checked the incoming passenger manifest flight number SA024 and discovered that Gobvu’s name was not appearing on the list as did the rest of those on Mr Tsvangirai’s entourage.
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“We have since confiscated Gobvu’s passport pending further investigations,” said Chief Supt Mandipaka. “Gobvu was picked up for questioning and later released.”
Contacted for comment, PM Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka said they were yet to be informed about the issue.
“All I can say is that the PM’s office is not aware of that issue,” he said.
Gobvu is so close to PM Tsvangirai and was also part of a controversial week-long maiden trip which the PM undertook to China last year.
In 2011, Gobvu accompanied PM Tsvangirai to South Africa where the PM wanted to hold meetings to push for the inclusion of his rival Professor Welshman Ncube as a principal in the inclusive Government.
The inclusion of Prof Ncube, who leads a faction of the MDC, was meant to spite Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara who heads a third faction.
The MDC-T officials left in three batches for the meeting, with Gobvu and Gudhe leaving in the third batch accompanying top officials PM Tsvangirai, secretary general Mr Tendai Biti, secretary for international relations Mr Jameson Timba and national executive member Mr Ian Makone. – Freeman Razemba (Herald Reporter)
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