Crimes and Courts Correspondent
ZANU-PF Member of Parliament for Uzumba, Wiriranai Muchemwa, and local councillor Knowledge Chipundu have been charged with theft of mealie meal valued at US$12,000.
The mealie meal was initially intended to be donated during a Presidential address in Murehwa earlier this year to assist vulnerable communities in the region.
Instead of reaching the intended recipients, the mealie meal was allegedly diverted for personal use by the accused.
Details of the Alleged Theft
On April 10, 2024, a representative from Black Cube mining company, Wang Qun, received a WhatsApp message from Muchemwa requesting US$12,000 for infrastructure development in Uzumba.
During a meeting attended by the accused, as well as Tinashe Choto and executives from YangSheng and Inducorn, Muchemwa allegedly insisted that each company contribute US$12,000.
YangSheng and Black Cube Mining agreed to donate mealie meal instead of cash, while Inducorn opted to contribute US$4,000.
The complainant and YangSheng pooled their resources to purchase 50 tonnes of maize, which was processed into 40 tonnes of mealie meal.
Chipundu and Choto allegedly misled a warehouse manager, Mutizwa, regarding the branding and collection of the mealie meal.
On July 9, 2024, Chipundu told an accountant at Paguyo Millers that he would be collecting the mealie meal the following day. He later claimed to be at the warehouse and had 20 tonnes of mealie meal released to him and Choto.
The two allegedly transported the mealie meal to Murehwa Milling Company, where it was repackaged into 10 kg bags and sold, generating US$10,000.
Consequences and Reactions
Muchemwa and Chipundu have been charged with theft of trust property or alternatively fraud and appeared before a Harare magistrate.
The theft of the mealie meal has drawn significant attention, with critics calling into question the misuse of resources intended to help the country’s most vulnerable popopulations
Both Muchemwa and Chipundu are expected to face further legal proceedings in connection with the alleged crime.
Zim GBC News©2024