News / National
Mutambara led MDC officials to perform community service
21 Jul 2013 at 17:02hrs | Views
MDC chairman Joubert Mudzumwe and his accomplice Phellistus Wazulu will perform 140 hours of community service after they were convicted of two counts of fraud and theft of trust property.
Mudzumwe (46) and Wazulu of the MDC formation led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, swindled their employer, the Commercial Workers Union of Zimbabwe of $4 308.
Mudzumwe was the CWUZ secretary general while Wazulu was the chief accountant.
The pair had pleaded not guilty to theft when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe but were convicted on overwhelming evidence.
They were initially sentenced to 20 months imprisonment but six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. Another 10 months were suspended on condition that they restitute their former employer.
The remaining four months were suspended on condition that they perform 140 hours of community service.
The complainant in the case is CWUZ.
Prosecutor Ms Mollyn Mutamangira proved that Mudzumwe and Wazulu had the authority to authorise, approve and withdraw the organistations' funds from the bank on behalf of CWUZ.
On August 16, 2011 the pair authorised and approved the withdrawal of a total of US$2 000 on behalf of CWUZ and the money was to be handed over to the organisations' accounts department.
The two did not hand over the money when asked to account for it alleging that they gave it to arbitrator Percy Shawatu as a bribe to obtain his favours. Mr Shawatu, however, denied receiving any money from the pair in the form of a bribe or appreciation of any form.
Mudzumwe (46) and Wazulu of the MDC formation led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, swindled their employer, the Commercial Workers Union of Zimbabwe of $4 308.
Mudzumwe was the CWUZ secretary general while Wazulu was the chief accountant.
The pair had pleaded not guilty to theft when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe but were convicted on overwhelming evidence.
They were initially sentenced to 20 months imprisonment but six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. Another 10 months were suspended on condition that they restitute their former employer.
The remaining four months were suspended on condition that they perform 140 hours of community service.
The complainant in the case is CWUZ.
Prosecutor Ms Mollyn Mutamangira proved that Mudzumwe and Wazulu had the authority to authorise, approve and withdraw the organistations' funds from the bank on behalf of CWUZ.
On August 16, 2011 the pair authorised and approved the withdrawal of a total of US$2 000 on behalf of CWUZ and the money was to be handed over to the organisations' accounts department.
The two did not hand over the money when asked to account for it alleging that they gave it to arbitrator Percy Shawatu as a bribe to obtain his favours. Mr Shawatu, however, denied receiving any money from the pair in the form of a bribe or appreciation of any form.
Source - Herald
