Former Ncube MDC chairman convicted
By Innocent Ruwende
The chairman of an MDC faction that broke away from the smaller MDC led by Welshman Ncube, Joubert Mudzumwe was today ordered to perform 140 hours of community service after being convicted of two counts of fraud and theft of trust property.
He swindled his employer, the Commercial Workers Union of Zimbabwe of several amounts. Mudzumwe (46), of the MDC formation led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, was the CWUZ secretary general while his accomplice Phellistus Wazulu was the chief accountant.
The pair had pleaded not guilty to theft charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe who convicted them because of overwhelming evidence.
They were sentenced to 20 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. A further 10 months were suspended on condition that they restitute their former employer.
The remaining four months were suspended on condition that the perfom 140 hours of community service. 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 given 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.
On July 10 last year the pair produced an invoice to the accounts department requesting for US$308 which they claimed was for vehicle repairs but investigations showed that they had used the same invoice to claim money before.
On September 2, 2011 Mudzumwe and Wazulu authorised, approved and signed for cash amounting to US$2 000. The money was to be handed over to CWUZ organising secretary Mr Chamunogwa but the pair converted the money to their own use. The Herald
