adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
TWO Zanu-PF officials from Mutasa, Sherrington Dumbura and Amon Chiocha are alleged to have misappropriated money meant for projects in the district, The Manica Post can reveal.
Investigations showed that Zanu-PF Mutasa District was allocated $5 000 from the provincial executive last year for projects as a way of fundraising for the party. The money was excess raised during the party’s fundraising activities for the 6th National People’s Congress held in Harare last year.
The then Ambassador Dr John Shumba Mvundura-led committee decided to allocate each eight Zanu-PF district $5 000 for various projects.
Each district was expected to identify projects that will help to generate more money for the party to make itself sustaining.
Having received the money, Mutasa District decided to loan out the money to Mutare businessman, Cde Oliver Mapunga, with the district expected to be given $750 as monthly interest for the money for 12 months.
Dumbura who is a Central Committee member collected and signed for $6 000 from Cde Mapunga on different occasions, but the money allegedly never reached the district. This emerged during a recent Zanu-PF inter-district meeting where it was announced that every constituency was expected to raise $2 000 for the Victoria Falls Conference.
Members questioned the whereabouts of the money allocated to the district last year and that is when it emerged that the money was collected and signed for by Dumbura.
Cde Mapunga, Dumbura and Chiocha all admitted that the money was allocated to the district, but Chiocha in a telephone interview on Wednesday afternoon denied receiving and misappropriating the money.
“Yes, the money was allocated to Mutasa District, but I don’t know how it was used. I never signed for it, it was Cde Dumbura who collected and signed for the money. I am the head of the district and I never signed for any money,” he said.
Cde Mapunga said: “We entered into a business agreement with the leadership of Mutasa District for me to use the money on my transport business and pay monthly interests on top of the $5 000 they had given me.
“Before the inter-district meeting I had paid back $6 000, which was signed for by Dumbura. Last week I paid $2 000, with the balance to be settled later. I have all the documents to show where and when the money was collected,” he said.
In an interview after last Friday’s inter-district conference at Mutare Hall, Dumbura confirmed having collected the money from Cde Mapunga and said he was ready to return it.
“As a district we gave Cde Mapunga $5 000 and we expected a return of $13 500. Cde Mapunga failed to return the money as per our agreement. I went to his office with Chiocha and we were given $3 000 in July. I gave all the money to Chiocha. We decided to share the money, with myself getting $1 500, while Chiocha getting $1 500. We had agreed that the money would be returned to the party.
“In August, Cde Mapunga failed to pay and in September he paid $2 000. Chiocha said he wanted to use $1 000 from that money and I gave him, while I kept the other $1 000. In November, Cde Mapunga paid $1 000. I used $3 500 from the money, while Chiocha used $2 500, but he is now denying any knowledge of the money. I am in the process of repaying the $3 500 I owe the party,” said Dumbura.
He added: “Yes, Chiocha never signed for the money, but I remember giving him some of the money at Masters Inn in Mutare and we were in Vascho’s car,” he said.
Dumbura went on to show The Manica Post a whatsapp message sent to him by Chiocha on August 26, 2015 asking whether the money was ready for collection from Cde Mapunga.
Dumbura latter tried to stop The Manica Post from publishing the story through a text message sent from 0772 458 292, which read: “Ndeyipi Cletus, ngatibatanei mangwana. Shamwari zvanzi namother imbomirai kupublisher nyaya iyi, we will destroy Mutasa. Dumbura thanks ngatibatanei mangwana.”
He went on to send whatsapp messages on Senior Manica Post photographer, Tinai Nyadzayo last Saturday saying: “Ndeyipi, kuri sei- Dumbura. Udza umwe vako nyaya yezuro zvanzi ngaamboisiye inokuwadza Mutasa. Chiocha akangotya hake kutaura chokwadi pane vanhu, but we have solved it.”
Enquires from party members in Mutasa District on Wednesday showed that the money was still to be returned.
Online Reporter