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Zvikomborero Parafini
ZIMBABWE National Statistics Agency director-general, Taguma Mahonde, will spend the weekend in remand prison awaiting his bail ruling which will be handed down on Monday.
Mahonde (53) appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa yesterday facing fraud and obstruction of justice allegations.
The State opposed bail and magistrate Gofa remanded Mahonde in custody.
Mahonde is accused of claiming school fees for a non-existent child.
The State said on June 24, 2019, Mahonde entered into a contract of employment with Zimstats as DG and an education allowance for himself and his children were part of his benefits.
On September 3, 2021, the Zimstat board discussed Mahonde’s education allowance.
It resolved under Resolution BR500321/16 that the education allowance for the DG be reviewed upwards to US$800 per child per term for a maximum of three children.
It is the State’s case that Mahonde misrepresented to the agency that he was claiming fees for three children for five terms to the amount of US$2 400 per term, despite the fact that he had officially claimed for two children initially.
Investigations revealed that in a bid to cover up the offence, he paid $756 047 on March 21 and 22 this year as a refund for claiming US$4 000 for a non-existent child.
The amount he paid back amounted to US$826 using the rate of the day he paid.
The offence was uncovered by the head of internal audit, Claudious Matiza.
In a bid to frustrate the investigation, Mahonde suspended Matiza, therefore, obstructing the course of justice.
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge