HARARE – A truck driver has allegedly disappeared with a 26-tonne shipment of ammonium nitrate fertilizer worth US$17,160, intended for the Battlefields farm of presidential spokesman George Charamba, a Harare court heard recently.
The information came to light during the Mbare Magistrates Court proceedings where Sithabisile Mpofu, 49, faced charges of theft of trust property.
According to prosecutors, Mpofu, who resides in Simbi Park, Redcliff, was reportedly contacted by Charamba’s personal assistant, Tsitsi Chirwa.
The purpose was to arrange for a truck to transport 26 tonnes of fertilizer, valued at US$17,160, from J&J in Mt Hampden, Harare, to the farm located near Kwekwe.
According to ZimLive, the court was informed that Mpofu subsequently hired truck driver Stewart Sanikwa, who collected the fertilizer on July 11.
Although Gift Nyamutowa, an employee from the president’s office, was slated to accompany the truck to Battlefields, he arrived late.
The National Prosecuting Authority stated, “The truck driver, who remains at large, exploited the complainant’s (Nyamutowa’s) absence and drove the truck from the loading point without an escort, vanishing with the load.”
Upon Nyamutowa’s later arrival at the farm, he discovered the fertilizer had not been delivered, prompting a police report.
Prosecutors further allege that Mpofu also provided fraudulent registration details for the truck used in the transport.
Mpofu has since been remanded in custody.
