Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Gokwe-Sesame Constituency Gorden Chanda (41) has been arrested for stealing food aid. Ward 13 Councillor ...
Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Gokwe-Sesame Constituency
Gorden Chanda (41) has been arrested for stealing food aid. Ward 13 Councillor
Georgina Chirongoma (34) was also arrested.
The pair yesterday appeared before Gokwe magistrate Mr
Musaiwona Shortgame facing charges of criminal abuse of office. They were
remanded out of custody to February 11 on $1 000 bail each.
The court heard that on December 16 last year, Chirongoma
went to Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Gokwe depot and collected 3 200 bags of
maize meant for food relief.
Chirongoma under- declared the number of bags which were
supposed to be dropped at each distribution centre. Investigations by police
showed that Chirongoma under declared 120 bags of maize.
Police recovered some of the maize at Chirongoma’s house. The court also heard that sometime in December last year,
the two took advantage of their positions and organised a meeting with village
heads. They asked them to mobilise $5 from each of the 13 000 households in the
ward.
The court heard that during the meeting, the two told
village heads that the money was for the construction of Gande Clinic in the
ward.
Mr Chimwaradze said the village heads went out and
collected $7 091 which was handed over to the duo. But it was then discovered
that the clinic was being funded by Gokwe South Rural District Council.
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