News / National
Zanu-PF councillor arrested for stealing agricultural inputs
20 Feb 2025 at 18:35hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested a Zanu-PF councillor and a Karoi-based police officer on allegations of stealing presidential agricultural inputs and Agriculture Rural Development Authority (ARDA) inputs, respectively.
The councillor, Chishamiso Linda Ellah, who represents Makoni Ward 11, was arrested alongside Enita Choga, a former Grain Marketing Board (GMB) employee, and Crispen Makoni. The trio is accused of diverting 400 bags of 50kg fertiliser worth US$12,000 and selling them to buyers in Rusape.
They have since appeared before Mutare Magistrate Annie Ndiraya and were granted bail of US$200 each. ZACC confirmed the arrest in a statement, saying, "They face a charge of theft as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23."
Talent Nyamuzuwe prosecuted the case.
Meanwhile, Gideon Msambakurima, a 39-year-old police officer stationed in Karoi, was arrested on allegations of defrauding ARDA of over US$4,700 in fertiliser supplies.
Msambakurima appeared before Provincial Magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe at Chinhoyi Magistrates Court and was remanded to March 4, 2025, on US$200 bail.
State prosecutor Brian Machekera alleged that Msambakurima, who joined the ARDA Joint Venture Farming programme, was allocated 8 metric tons of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser for his 20-hectare maize plot. However, weeks later, he allegedly used the same batch number to fraudulently obtain an additional 6 metric tons of Windmill Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser, despite having exhausted his allocation.
ZACC has vowed to intensify its crackdown on corruption involving state resources, warning that more arrests could follow as investigations continue.
The councillor, Chishamiso Linda Ellah, who represents Makoni Ward 11, was arrested alongside Enita Choga, a former Grain Marketing Board (GMB) employee, and Crispen Makoni. The trio is accused of diverting 400 bags of 50kg fertiliser worth US$12,000 and selling them to buyers in Rusape.
They have since appeared before Mutare Magistrate Annie Ndiraya and were granted bail of US$200 each. ZACC confirmed the arrest in a statement, saying, "They face a charge of theft as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23."
Talent Nyamuzuwe prosecuted the case.
Msambakurima appeared before Provincial Magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe at Chinhoyi Magistrates Court and was remanded to March 4, 2025, on US$200 bail.
State prosecutor Brian Machekera alleged that Msambakurima, who joined the ARDA Joint Venture Farming programme, was allocated 8 metric tons of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser for his 20-hectare maize plot. However, weeks later, he allegedly used the same batch number to fraudulently obtain an additional 6 metric tons of Windmill Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser, despite having exhausted his allocation.
ZACC has vowed to intensify its crackdown on corruption involving state resources, warning that more arrests could follow as investigations continue.
Source - newzimbabwe
