Mutodi trial: 400 more to testify

The State is yet to call 408 witnesses in the trial of National Housing Delivery Trust (NHDT) and its founder Energy Mutodi, accused of fleecing desperate home seekers of US$588 000 in a botched deal.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza has so far called 40 witnesses to testify against the businessman–cum–musician. Mutodi’s trial, which started in May this year, will spill to next year due to the large number of witnesses to testify.

Mutodi is jointly charged with company trustee Boniface Chikono and the pair pleaded not guilty to fraud charges.

Testifying in court yesterday, Zimbabwe Republic Police Assistant Inspector Runyararo Musakwa said he lost US$1 050 in subscriptions.

During cross-examination Chikono, who is no longer represented, breathed fire telling the witness that he never received a cent from the US$588 000.

“I was once a signatory in the company (NHDT), but have no idea how I was removed. What is your comment if I tell you that I never withdrew your money?” Chikono asked.

In response, Musakwa said he had no idea who withdrew his money, but is sure that he placed his money with the company.

Chikono asked Musakwa if he was still interested in owning a residential stand before inviting him in to the office.

In response, Musakwa said he had lost faith in the trust and would not enter into discussions with the accused again on the issue of stands.

Mr Reza alleged that on the formation of National Housing Delivery Trust, Mutodi and Chikono became the founding members.

The court heard that it was agreed that the company would appoint trustees that would constitute a board of trustees with Chikono as the chair- man.

The objective of the trust was to acquire land in urban areas and towns, service it for residential purposes for its clients.

A Kingdom Bank account 49034067 was opened with Mutodi and Chikono as signatories. The pair went to apply for a deduction code with Salary Service Bureau (SSB) and was granted code number 47453.

More civil servants and other people were invited to join but sometime in 2007 the NHDT made Mutodi the sole signatory in all transactions relating to the trust, it is alleged.

Investigations revealed that the accused did not own stands in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Gweru and Mutare.

Only US$3 585 was recovered from a total prejudice of US$588 787. The Herald