Man who conned Gukurahundi architect has case to answer

A Harare man accused of stealing $50 000 from Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri in a botched solar power system deal at his farm has a case to answer, a Harare magistrate has said.

Brian Tarisai Kambasha is charged with theft of trust property and his company, Hemmingworth (Pvt) Ltd, was cited as the second respondent.

Kambasha had made an application for discharge at the close of the State's case before magistrate Mr Milton Serima.

Magistrate Mr Serima dismissed the application after ruling Kambasha had a case to answer and must be put to his defence.

He said prosecutors Mr George Manokore and Miss Sharon Mashavira proved a prima facie case against Kambasha and his company.

"After hearing submissions from both counsels, the court is convinced that the State managed to prove its case against the accused. The application is therefore dismissed," he said.

Mr Serima remanded the matter to Thursday.

It is the State's case that in April 2013, Kambasha approached Air Marshal Shiri and proposed a solar power pilot project at his Hopedale Farm in Bindura.

The court heard that Kambasha indicated that the project involved three stages. Air Marshal Shiri agreed to have the first phase of the project undertaken at his farm at a cost of $50 125.

On June 7, 2013 Air Marshal Shiri entered an agreement to pay the money in instalments.

It is alleged that Kambasha only mounted metal stands for the plant and converted the money to personal use. After two weeks Air Marshal Shiri approached Kambasha who gave him excuses.

He allegedly failed to install the plant or reimburse the money, leading to his arrest on December 12 last year.