News / Regional
Zanu-PF official convicted for theft
05 Apr 2012 at 11:08hrs | Views
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North secretary for legal affairs John Roberts Khumalo has been convicted for stealing two diesel pumps donated to farmers from Jotsholo.
Lupane magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba on Wednesday convicted Khumalo on two counts.
The magistrate then set 25 April sentencing after Khumalo's legal representative Solomon Mguni, requested for time to prepare for his client's mitigation.
It is the state's case that Khumalo was the councillor for Jotsholo in the 1990s when the Norwegian Development Agency donated two water pumps to the community for cattle-rearing projects.
The pumps were then moved to homesteads of villagers due to vandalism.
Khumalo allegedly took the two pumps after the 2008 council elections which he lost on the pretext that he was taking them for repairs. The politician then sold one pump Zipra Veterans Trust chairman Buster Magwizi for $1 600 and gave the other to his neighbour.
During trial, Khumalo said he had taken the engines for safe keeping accusing some villagers in the area of sabotaging the cattle rearing project. He further told the court that he lent one of the pumps to Magwizi on the agreement that the war veteran would bring it back
Lupane magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba on Wednesday convicted Khumalo on two counts.
The magistrate then set 25 April sentencing after Khumalo's legal representative Solomon Mguni, requested for time to prepare for his client's mitigation.
It is the state's case that Khumalo was the councillor for Jotsholo in the 1990s when the Norwegian Development Agency donated two water pumps to the community for cattle-rearing projects.
Khumalo allegedly took the two pumps after the 2008 council elections which he lost on the pretext that he was taking them for repairs. The politician then sold one pump Zipra Veterans Trust chairman Buster Magwizi for $1 600 and gave the other to his neighbour.
During trial, Khumalo said he had taken the engines for safe keeping accusing some villagers in the area of sabotaging the cattle rearing project. He further told the court that he lent one of the pumps to Magwizi on the agreement that the war veteran would bring it back
Source - Byo24News
