US$5 000 lands man in trouble

Beitbridge Bureau
A senior local government official in Matabeleland South was on Tuesday arraigned before the courts for allegedly defrauding Zilmo Transport of more than US$5 000.
Ricky Musafara Muzanenhamo, who works for the department of Public Works and is based in Gwanda, pleaded not guilty to charges of theft by conversion when he appeared before magistrate Mrs Auxilia Chiumburu.
He was remanded out of custody to tomorrow for judgment.
The State, led by Mr Jabulani Mberesi, alleges that between November 2008 and January 2009, Zilmo Transport was allocated six houses built under Government’s Beitbridge Redevelopment Programme.
The houses were handed over to the transport company by the accused person.
It is further alleged that soon after handing over the houses to Zilmo Transport, Muzanenhamo suggested that the company hire a caretaker to look after the properties until they could occupy the houses.
Muzanenhamo, the court was told, put tenants at the houses situated on stand numbers 4294, 4334, 4335, 4333, 4296 and 4299 in the border town.
Muzanenhamo was to collect monthly rentals amounting to US$420 on their behalf and surrender it at their offices in Harare, said the State.
However, it is alleged he collected US$5 460 and converted it to his own use.
Muzanenhamo allegedly told the company that he had used the money to buy his medication.
A police report was made leading to his arrest.