Tich Mataz faces $126 000 fraud charges
By Tendai Kamhungira
HARARE – Popular radio personality Tichafa ‘Tich Mataz’ Matambanadzo, accused of defrauding Star FM of $126 000, has been freed on $150 bail. Mataz was employed by the State-controlled radio station as a programmes manager.
Prosecutor Tungamirai Chakurira yesterday did not oppose the flamboyant DJ’s freedom, leading to magistrate Anita Tshuma releasing him on bail. He was ordered to report to the police every fortnight as part of his bail conditions.
Mataz, who was represented by Wellington Pasipanodya and Tinashe Tanyanyiwa from Manase and Manase law firm, allegedly swindled the radio station between June 25 last year and May this year.
The DJ allegedly misrepresented to Star FM’s clients that the station did not have the capacity to produce certain programmes. He however, indicated that he was an agent of Star FM through companies called Hamtec and Onesay Investments, the court heard.
He allegedly wrote letters on Star FM letterheads, purporting that the radio station had contracted the two companies to advertise on its behalf.
As a result of the misrepresentation, Constitutional Select Committee, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, European Union, American Embassy, Ster Kinekor and OK Zimbabwe approached Hamtec and Onesay and placed their adverts, which were later produced and advertised on Star FM.
Due to the misrepresentation, Star FM lost $104 032 in revenue.
It is alleged that Mataz further prejudiced Star FM after he converted laptops and cell phones to personal use, in a deal where the radio station had offered Goldtech and Cellone Electronics radio airtime, in exchange of the gadgets.
He allegedly prejudiced the radio station of $21 807.
Mataz is alleged to have organised another deal on behalf of Star FM, where eight designer suits, shirts and shoes were acquired from a company called Status-Quo in exchange of radio airtime worth $4 800.
The popular radio DJ allegedly converted radio airtime worth $1 106, 40 to personal use. The radio station allegedly suffered $126 946 prejudice in total. Meanwhile, Mataz was yesterday not asked to plead to the charges. He will be back in court on September 9. Daily News
