Zimdef boss in the dock

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter

Investigations into Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) chief executive officer Fredrick Mandizvidza, accused of fraud and abuse of office allegations are complete, the court heard yesterday.Mandizvidza appeared in court for his routine remand and Harare magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande postponed the matter to November 17.

The prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa, told the court that investigations into the matter were complete and the docket was sent to the National Prosecuting Authority for further management.

However, Mandizvidza advised the court of his intention to apply for refusal of further remand on the next remand date should the State fail to provide him with a trial date.

Zimdef is a State enterprise in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development whose responsibility is to mobilise money from industry to fund manpower deve- lopment.

It is alleged that on November 11 last year, Mandizvidza connived with a ministry official, who is still at large and allegedly created a fake document purporting that the trustee of the fund, Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, had authorised and approved the purchase of 10 heavy-duty printers worth $95 800.

The court heard that no such authorisation was granted.

It is alleged Mandizvidza released the money to Wisebone Trading, a company that deals with Agro-Chemical and Engineering’s CABS account number.

The court heard that Mandizvidza knew that the company was not into information technologies.

No printers were supplied.

The court also heard that while Zimdef has no provisions for personal loans, Mandizvidza and his accomplices processed a loan of $24 000 on October 19 last year.

Zimdef lost $119 800 and nothing was recovered.

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