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Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Member of Parliament Obert Manduna has been arrested as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) intensifies its investigation into a high-profile fraud case linked to the ex-legislator.
Manduna, who has previously faced scrutiny over allegations of misusing a school fund, was arrested on Friday around 5PM. Despite claims of residing at the upmarket Kenilworth Towers in Ascot, Bulawayo, court papers now list him as having no fixed abode. Authorities say he went to extraordinary lengths to avoid capture, frequently switching SIM cards, using hired vehicles, and sleeping in undisclosed locations once he sensed the net closing in.
The current charges relate to a land sale scam that allegedly took place between October 2020 and February 2022. Prosecutors say Manduna used a fraudulent power of attorney to convince a buyer, Sithulisiwe Sibanda, that he had the authority to sell Stand 7278 in Cowdray Park for US$6,500. In reality, the Bulawayo City Council had already repossessed the property, the alleged rightful owner Benard Mujuru had not granted any power of attorney, and Manduna had no legal right to the land.
Sibanda, unaware of the deception, reportedly paid Manduna US$5,900 before realising she had been duped. She has yet to recover the money.
Prosecutor Samuel Mpofu told the court that Manduna was evasive during the investigation. Police visited four separate addresses in search of him, only to be told by residents that they had never heard of him. One summons reportedly triggered a panicked phone call from Manduna, during which he allegedly sobbed and threatened to take poison. ZACC dismissed the threat and pressed on with the probe.
During a bail hearing held on Saturday, detectives described Manduna as a serious flight risk. "He vanished once, he will vanish again. He could intimidate witnesses, as some claim they received anonymous calls warning them to forget the stand," one investigator told the court.
Magistrate Maxwell Ncube postponed the matter to today, granting ZACC a further 48 hours to access Manduna's phone records, bank accounts, and any hidden property deeds. The State maintains that Manduna's conduct not only reflects guilt but also suggests he could obstruct justice if granted bail.
ZACC officials believe this case could be just the beginning of broader corruption revelations tied to the former MP. Manduna's arrest adds to growing concerns about fraud and abuse of public trust by some political figures, and marks a significant step in the anti-graft commission's ongoing investigations.
Manduna, who has previously faced scrutiny over allegations of misusing a school fund, was arrested on Friday around 5PM. Despite claims of residing at the upmarket Kenilworth Towers in Ascot, Bulawayo, court papers now list him as having no fixed abode. Authorities say he went to extraordinary lengths to avoid capture, frequently switching SIM cards, using hired vehicles, and sleeping in undisclosed locations once he sensed the net closing in.
The current charges relate to a land sale scam that allegedly took place between October 2020 and February 2022. Prosecutors say Manduna used a fraudulent power of attorney to convince a buyer, Sithulisiwe Sibanda, that he had the authority to sell Stand 7278 in Cowdray Park for US$6,500. In reality, the Bulawayo City Council had already repossessed the property, the alleged rightful owner Benard Mujuru had not granted any power of attorney, and Manduna had no legal right to the land.
Sibanda, unaware of the deception, reportedly paid Manduna US$5,900 before realising she had been duped. She has yet to recover the money.
Prosecutor Samuel Mpofu told the court that Manduna was evasive during the investigation. Police visited four separate addresses in search of him, only to be told by residents that they had never heard of him. One summons reportedly triggered a panicked phone call from Manduna, during which he allegedly sobbed and threatened to take poison. ZACC dismissed the threat and pressed on with the probe.
During a bail hearing held on Saturday, detectives described Manduna as a serious flight risk. "He vanished once, he will vanish again. He could intimidate witnesses, as some claim they received anonymous calls warning them to forget the stand," one investigator told the court.
Magistrate Maxwell Ncube postponed the matter to today, granting ZACC a further 48 hours to access Manduna's phone records, bank accounts, and any hidden property deeds. The State maintains that Manduna's conduct not only reflects guilt but also suggests he could obstruct justice if granted bail.
ZACC officials believe this case could be just the beginning of broader corruption revelations tied to the former MP. Manduna's arrest adds to growing concerns about fraud and abuse of public trust by some political figures, and marks a significant step in the anti-graft commission's ongoing investigations.
Source - The Chronicle
