Chegutu Rural District Council independent councillor for ward 23 alderman Ngoni Mupfudza was arrested and arrained before Chegutu magistrate on charges of embezzlement of Pfumvudza inputs amounting to 12 100 kgs.

Mupfudza (51) was charged together with Agritex officials Margaret Manda (49) and Patricia Chemhazo (53), a police constable, Bridget Mutondoro, two soldiers, Talent Chihota and Perfect Dhliwayo (36) and Dominic Zinyakatira.

The eight accused appeared before Chegutu magistrate Noah Gwatidzo who ramanded the case to 11 November.

He granted them $5000 bail and they are expected to stay at their given addresses.

It is the state’s case that on 25 October 2020 at around 11am, the police received a tip off that Pfumvudza inputs were being embezzled at Grain Marketing Board, Chegutu.

The accused persons who were supposed to distribute AN fertilizers, Compound D Fertilizers, and Panna seed maize to Wards 12-29 in Chegutu District would allegedly tamper with the lists, inflating numbers  and converting the remaining inputs to their own use after distribution.

On 26 October at about 1500 hours, details from the  Criminal Investigation Department in  Kadoma reacted to the tip off  and managed to arrest Mamvura and 100kgs of fertiliser was recovered at Durawall Home Industry, Chegutu.

Mamvura also led detectives to shop number 168 Mukwati Street, Chegutu Industrial area where 42 X 50kgs bags of fertilisers and 3 X 5kgs of seed maize were recovered in a wooden cabin  and also implicated Dhliwayo.

Investigations made by the CID crack team led to the recovery of 12 100kgs of fertilisers and the arrest of more accused persons.

-State Media