A 36-year-old employee with GetBucks has appeared in court on allegations of defrauding Adlecraft Investment Private Limited of US$1 300 000.
Harare Magistrates Court
Belinda Shumirai Mutengwa was facing fraud charges when she appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi.
She was remanded out of custody on free bail.
Allegations are that Mutengwa and her accomplices Gilad Shabtai (still at large) and Munyaradzi Gonyora who is already on remand for the same offence mooted a plan to steal money from Adlecraft Investment and in pursuant to their plan, without a resolution from the board of directors, decided to open a conduit account with Getbucks.
The court heard that on April 20, Mutengwa whose duties were to check and verify account opening forms processed the form which was presented on behalf of Aldercraft Investment.
She allegedly authorised the system and opened a Foreign Currency Account (FCA) without following all the requirements for opening a corporate account. The account was fraudulently opened without the knowledge of the director Ofer Sivan.
The court heard that on March 18, without the authority of either the board or shareholder, Gilad Shabtai wrote a letter to the chief executive of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamonds Company (ZCDC), a company which owed the complainant, requesting that the money owed be deposited into the fraudulently opened GetBucks account which was to be used as a conduit account.
It is alleged that Shabtai and Gonyora transferred the money from the GetBucks account into a South African registered account with Investec bank belonging to Shabtai’s company purporting to be paying for mining equipment that had already been paid for.
As a result of the accused’s actions, the complainant suffered prejudice of US$1 300 000. The Herald
Willard Katsande is a Zimbabwean professional footballer, a former player of Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs and the Zimbabwe national team. He is currently with DStv Premiership side Sekhukhune United F.C.
Zimbabwe international, Willard Katsande, has been in entrepreneurial spirit for quite some time now.
Willard Katsande is a Zimbabwean professional footballer, a former player of Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs and the Zimbabwe national team. He is currently with DStv Premiership side Sekhukhune United F.C.
And, one of his more recent business ventures has kick-started, and he was there in a helmet too.
Katsande seems to be consolidating a prosperous retirement, as he is in the twilight of his playing career.
The former Kaizer Chiefs defensive midfielder appears to be extremely mindful of the importance of having things to fall back, on once you have exited the game.
It is also important to mention that a good number of other former players have also embarked on business ventures after retirement, including Sphiwe Tshabalala and Lucky Lekgwathi, among others.
For Katsande, it was rather important for him to make an appearance at the worksite, where his men were hard at work, and he appears to have been on supervisory duties.
The charismatic Sekhukhune United star had the outfit to match the occasion, a helmet, a reflective jacket, and a pair of glasses to cap off that boss-like look.
His business provides various services, including repair work, painting, and hardware solutions.
Meanwhile, former Kaizer Chiefs star Robson Muchichwa believes there are still shortcomings the club need to address before bringing back the glory days.
Positive signs for Amakhosi this season has been the signing of the likes of Keagan Dolly, which has proved a masterstroke, for head coach Stuart Baxter.
“They won the game against Orlando Pirates but then again there wasn’t much to talk about,” Muchichwa tells KickOff.com.
“Yes, they won the game but still need to fix some other things. I know three points are three points and there’s no bad win you know.
“But they still need to go back to the drawing board again and they must try to fix some other things which are not yet on a 100%.
“They still need to play as a team. There are some players who are helping the team as you saw over the weekend.
“It wasn’t an impressive performance from the team, but these individuals came up and did the job.
“Those individuals who scored are game-winners. So for me, they did the job.
“The other players they need to improve so that it’s not only those two guys Dolly and Billiat who keep providing wins.” — KickOff
Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona could be closer to his return to full fitness after shrugging off a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the remainder of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Knowledge Musona
The forward has been down for the past three weeks and has not featured for his Saudi Arabian club, Al Tai, in their last three Pro-League matches.
The club yesterday posted the pictures of the Warriors skipper training with his teammates.
Musona was injured during a practice session last month.
He has made seven appearances for the club and scored two goals.
The forward is expected to be available for Al Tai’s next game after the international break, on November 20.
He will be conspicuous by his absence when Zimbabwe face South Africa at the FNB Stadium tonight.
Also missing due to injuries are Marshall Munetsi, Jordan Zemura, Teenage Hadebe and goalkeeper Martin Mapisa.
Striker Tino Kadewere was omitted, as he had just recovered from a thigh injury, which he picked when Zimbabwe hosted South Africa, in the opening match of the qualifiers.
Former Zimbabwe internationals Edelbert Dinha and Kaitano Tembo yesterday told TimesLive the Warriors still have a lot to play for despite having crashed out of the qualifiers.
Using the last two qualifying games to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Cameroon next January and February.
“AFCON is around the corner in January and we need to go to Cameroon with a positive mind and attitude,’’ said Dinha.
“We are using these remaining two World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia as preparation for AFCON.
‘’We understand that SA wants to qualify for the World Cup but we have also qualified for AFCON and we need to prepare for that tournament.
“We are going to Cameroon with the mission of doing well and trying to get out of the group stages.
“We are not coming here to SA on holiday, we are here for the coach to make sure that he keeps the spirit going among the players and work on formations as we look ahead to the 2022 AFCON.
“The coach’s job is not secured because he is on an interim basis and he wants people to understand that he is focused and he has what it takes to take the team to AFCON next year.
“It’s the Limpopo Derby and there is a lot at stake for both countries.”
Tembo, the SuperSport United coach, said Mapeza should look for a victory.
“The coach was given about four games on a caretaker basis.
“They wanted to see how he does in the qualifiers and good results in these two matches against Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia may well see him get the job to take the team to AFCON,’’ said Tembo.
“That is why these two games are important for him, to show that he is the right man for the job.
“He has also brought in some youngsters from the local league, who must show what they can do, and he is trying to build for the future.
“It is not about the World Cup any more, everyone is playing for their places in the AFCON squad.
“You must also remember that there are not going to be many friendly games to prepare before AFCON and these two games are being used as preparation.
“There are players who are based in Zambia and in Zimbabwe in this team who will be looking to impress and, maybe, get contracts in the PSL. It is also about bragging rights.’’ The Herald
A State witness yesterday backtracked during cross-examination in the trial of former Cabinet Minister Prisca Mupfumira on charges that she improperly pressed for a quick deal without going through tender processes between NSSA and Drawcard Investments over a Gweru housing scheme.
Zimbabwe’s then Environment and Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira arrives at the Harare Magistrates Courts on July 26, 2019, as she faces seven corruption charges linked to the disappearance of $94 million from the countrys pension fund when she was welfare minister. – Mupfumira was detained on July 25, 2019 by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and is the first sitting minister of the ruling Zanu-PF party to be arrested for graft under the new administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. (Photo by Jekesai NJIKIZANA / AFP)
The former finance and administration director in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mrs Memory Mukondomi, on Tuesday said in her evidence in chief that Mupfumira had pressed NSSA to sign the deal within 48 hours.
But yesterday, Mrs Mukondomi both denied that Mupfumira had pressed the NSSA board for instant approval and said its was then NSSA chairman Robin Vela who gave the 48-hour deadline.
Under cross-examination by Mupfumira’s lawyer, Mr Admire Rubaya, in the case where she is jointly charged with Barnabas Matongera on criminal abuse of office charges, Mrs Mukondomi said it was not the duty of Mupfumira to see that projects got approval and went through tender processes as she was not the ministry’s accounting officer.
Mrs Mukondomi said the NSSA board was seized with the mandate to see that the Gweru off-take low income housing project agreement signed between NSSA and Drawcard Investments was above board.
Responding to questions posed by Mr Rubaya, Mrs Mukondomi said that Mupfumira never instructed them not to follow due processes.
“No there was no such communication. She would say let’s expeditiously enter into the agreement (but) it was not her duty to see into that and she was not the accounting officer at that time,” she said.
Yesterday, Mrs Mukondomi migrated from her assertion made on Tuesday that Mupfumira pressed the NSSA board to have the agreement signed within 48hours.
She said in fact, it was the then board chairperson, Mr Robin Vela, who said it during a meeting.
Mrs Mukondomi also told the court that Mupfumira was not the one who introduced Drawcard to NSSA, but is was the bank which was to partner NSSA in the project.
She also distanced Mupfumira from playing a role in the payment of US$3,5 million towards the off-take project.
Mrs Mukondomi acknowledged that she was also seized with responsibility to see that the project was above board as she sat in the NSSA board as a link between the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and NSSA.
Mrs Mukondomi exonerated Matongera from participating in processes in the build-up to the signing of the agreement, saying he was not the accounting officer at the material time.
Then NSSA general manager Mrs Elizabeth Chitiga was the accounting officer and “everything was the preserve of the accounting officer”.
Asked by Matongera’s lawyer Mr Masinire whether the off-take agreement needed board approval and going to tender, Mrs Mukondomi replied: When there was a discussion as to not why take it to PRAZ (the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe) for approval, the board chair said the housing units are purchased as NSSA business and it is where a business buys and sells.
He classified these housing units as trading stock which does not require board approval.
Mr Emerson Mungwariri, who testified as a State witness, told the court that there was no evidence that proved that Mupfumira instructed anyone at NSSA to speed up the signing of the agreement and that Matongera did not participate in the signing of the agreement.
Mr Charles Lovemore Nyika, NSSA deputy director for property investments, told the court that he was not privy to issues surrounding the NSSA-Drawcard Investment projects, as his level would not allow interaction with the Minister.
He only came to know of the issues when called to make a statement at Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
The trial was adjourned to Monday next week.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna presided while Mr Whisper Mabhaudi and Mr Loveit Masuku appeared for the State. The Herald
Kadoma City Council has reduced its October and November bills, reverting to the July level, following complaints from residents over high charges and poor service delivery.
Kadoma Townhall
Town clerk Mr Malvern Dondo said reverting to the July levels was valid for two months and they would return to their normal billing system next month.
“Following the concerns raised by ratepayers over the recent tariff increases, council has reconsidered its position and resolved to reduce the bills to the approved July levels which is 75 percent of the October bill,” he said.
“The reduction will be for two months to November 2021. From December 2021 council will revert to the approved October tariffs to enable it to cover its ever increasing costs.
“Ratepayers can start paying 75 percent of the bills received in October while council processes bill reductions which should be completed and communicated by the next billing cycle.”
Mr Dondo urged indebted residents to clear all arrears by December 31.
He said those in arrears next year would be charged interest at the prevailing bank rates.
“Council will hand them over for collection of all outstanding amounts at their cost,” said Mr Dondo. “Council has also awarded a monthly incentive of 10 percent to those that will clear their October bills by 15 November 2021.
“Those who have already cleared their October bills will be considered for the discount as well. The 10 percent will be extended to those who clear their arrears in the November and December bills due dates.”
Mr Dondo said they hoped ratepayers would clear their debts, thereby capacitating the administrative staff with adequate resources to deal with the various service challenges facing the city.
Council was grateful to compliant ratepayers who had kept it going during difficult times and urged those in arrears to make efforts to clear outstanding bills. The Herald
Leo Kanyimo (38) who allegedly went into a trance and axed his wife and two children to death was buried side by side next to his kids at Mutasa Cemetery in Gweru
A sombre atmosphere engulfed Mutasa Cemetery on Tuesday when the Gweru man who murdered his wife and two children in cold blood before he collapsed and died at Gweru Magistrates Court, was buried side-by-side with his kids.
Leo Kanyimo (38) who allegedly went into a trance and axed his wife and two children to death was buried side by side next to his kids at Mutasa Cemetery in Gweru
Leo Kanyimo (30) allegedly murdered his wife Chipo and their two children, Innocent and Tadisa, using an axe and knife on Tuesday last week.
He then died two days later at the Gweru Magistrates Court, while awaiting an initial court remand.
The wife will be buried at a date to be announced at her rural home in Mberengwa. The child who survived after falling unconscious, attended the funeral of his father and siblings.
Kanyimo was said to have been extremely violent from the time he was arrested by police with the assistance of the public.
In interviews at the graveside, his close relative, Ms Kedina Kanyimo, said he was born in Chiweshe before his mother moved to Dosert in Shurugwi after separating with his father.
“We are still in shock and so is everyone around here because this is a very unusual and uncalled for incident,” she said.
“Leo is my sister’s son and he was born in Chiweshe. After separation with Leo’s father, my sister moved back home in Dosert and remarried and we grew up with Leo.
“He was a quiet and peace-loving person and was a prayer warrior. He attended AFM Church and I started hearing about the alleged murder from social media. It came as a shocker because we knew him as a peace-maker and a hard worker.”
Ms Kanyimo said Chipo was Kanyamo’s second wife after his first wife abandoned him for greener pastures.
“He married Chipo and they have been together for seven years,” she said.
“During those years, I knew them as greatly in love and that is why this is shocking.
“Since I was not there on the day of the murders, I wouldn’t comment on it, but I believe it’s the work of the devil.”
At around 2.30pm on Tuesday last week, Kanyimo allegedly murdered his wife Chipo (30), who was a vendor, his son Innocent (6) and 11-month-old Tadisa.
Chipo’s body lay on the bed and she had a deep cut on the chin and head.
Innocent was lying on the floor naked with a stab wound on the left side of the chest. Furniture in the room was upside down, an indication that Chipo and Innocent tried to fend off Kanyimo’s attacks.
A bloody wooden hoe handle was near Chipo’s body and a kitchen knife near Innocent’s lifeless body.
Tadisa’s body lay on the road about 200 metres away from the house. She had a deep cut on the head.
Kanyimo’s third child miraculously escaped his chop after he fainted before being rescued by brave neighbours. The Herald
The wreckage of the vehicle used to transport the 259kg of mbanje (right) recovered by police in Marondera on Monday
By Victor Maphosa
A 34-year-old man was on Monday arrested after allegedly being found in possession of 259kg of mbanje.
The wreckage of the vehicle used to transport the 259kg of mbanje (right) recovered by police in Marondera on Monday
Tatenda Spinyu was reportedly in the company of three colleagues, along the Harare-Hwedza road when they approached a police checkpoint mounted at the 105km peg along the same road.
Realising they could be searched at the check point, they allegedly made a U-turn and drove away at high speed.
Alert police officers became suspicious and gave chase. The driver of the Ford Ranger vehicle lost control, veered off the road, overturned and landed on its roof.
Three occupants then abandoned the car and fled. A search was conducted and about 10 sacks of mbanje were recovered, leading to Spinyu’s arrest.
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers from Marondera and Marondera police traffic, together with the canine section, attended the scene.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest.
“The other three suspects escaped. Investigations are underway,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
In a related incident, police in Mutawatawa, Mashonaland East busted a syndicate of drug dealers suspected to be illegally dealing in dangerous drugs and recovered 135 bottles of BronCleer.
Police had received a tip-off from citizens that a vehicle with two occupants had offloaded brocleer at one of the shops allegedly run by one MacDonald Hofman at the business centre.
Police proceeded to the shop and after investigations and searches, they recovered 50x100ml bottles of broncleer.
Investigations revealed the drugs were offloaded by a Ms Vetas Karimanzira (29) and her accomplice, Lenard Mudziiri (31). The Herald
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi
Two men were shot dead while relieving themselves in separate incidents in Gweru and Kadoma, while a body of another man was found with gunshot wounds along the Limpopo River in Beitbridge.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi
Police say investigations on the cases are in progress.
In Gweru, the man was shot on the back while relieving himself in a bushy area near a friend’s house, while in the Kadoma incident, the man was found dead by his wife who had left him relieving himself along a dusty road.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the cases.
“Police are appealing for information which may assist in the investigation of a murder case which occurred at Mandindindi Village, Chiundura, on November 6, 2021 at 10pm,” he said.
“A male adult was shot on the back while relieving himself in a bush close to his friend’s homestead where they were drinking beer.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said police in Kadoma are also investigating a murder case in which Cosmas Kariya (36) was found dead by his wife Trish Dzowa (32) on November 7 along a dusty road near Mayflower Primary School.
“The victim was attacked by unknown assailants after his wife who was accompanying him left him behind relieving himself as they were walking home from a live band performance at Dzete Bar,” he said.
“The body of the victim was found with deep cuts on the head and thigh.
“Anyone with information to contact any nearest police station.”
Police are also investigating circumstances surrounding the murder case which occurred in Beitbridge where the body of a man was found at the confluence of Limpopo and Mzingwane rivers.
The body had a gunshot wound on the back, swollen face and some blisters.
A 9mm live round, 5x9mm spent cartridges, flick knife and a torch were recovered at the scene. The body was taken to Beitbridge Hospital for post-mortem.
Police are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect and assist in the identification of the body.
In Masvingo, police arrested a suspected mentally challenged man, Robson Harry (49), for a murder case in which he struck his uncle, Clever Harry (69), with a solar panel on the chest on November 7 at Mhinde Village, Zimuto.
The victim died while admitted to Masvingo Provincial Hospital on November 8.
The suspect became violent and ran away from a family gathering convened to discuss his mental health.
In Kariba, police arrested Perfect Kembo Lembani (23) in connection with a murder case in which he stabbed Stephan Mutematsaka (32) with a knife on the chest and abdomen on October 30 at Ndomo Fishing Camp.
This was after Mutematsaka consumed Lembani’s maheu without consent.
Mutematsaka died on November 8 whilst admitted to Parirenyatwa Hospital. The Herald
Police in Zvishavane have launched a manhunt for four brothers from Mombe village under Chief Mazvihwa who last Friday stormed Gwemombe Langeni Secondary School where they allegedly beat up teachers and the headmaster with logs after the school demanded fees for one of the family members’ children.
Chief Mazvihwa confirmed the violence unleashed by the Mudhonga brothers, saying he had since convened a meeting with the gang’s father and other relatives.
He said the traditional court had resolved to banish the family from the area over a spate of violence cases after they also forced a local business centre to close sometime back.
“We have problems with this family,” said Chief Mazvihwa. “It is a violent family and last week they went to Gwemombe Langeni where they beat up every one, including the headmaster after one of the family’s children was chased away from school over fees.
“Four of the family members, who are known for violence, stormed the school and beat up everyone with logs.”
Chief Mazvihwa said it was not the first time the gang had unleashed violence in the area. The violent gang members have been identified as Charles, Farai and Tinashe and Fidelis Mudhonga.
Chief Mazvihwa said they were processing papers to banish them to Murehwa where he claimed they originated from.
“Everyone in the area lives in fear of them,” he said. “They have committed several cases of violence including at one time when they forced the whole business centre to close.
“After committing crimes they go out of the area to do illegal gold panning while hiding from the police. We have since met with my village heads and the resolution is that they should leave my area and go back to Murehwa where they originated. This is the position and I have spoken to their father about that.”
Chief Mazvihwa said lessons at the school had since resumed after police and officials from the Ministry Primary and Secondary Education held a meeting with the teachers yesterday.
“There had not been lessons at the school since Friday with teachers still fearing for their lives, but we assured them that as the local leadership and with help from the police, we would guarantee their safety,” he said.
Acting Midlands provincial education director, Mr Rabson Machimbira, confirmed the attack on teachers at the school and the subsequent meetings with the local leadership and police as the hunt for the suspects continued. The Herald
So far 88 retired nurses have been recruited by the Health Services Board as it works to increase the public sector health care workforce in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
File Pic
The recruitment of nurses began last year when the Government called for retired health professionals interested in rejoining the public health sector to register for placement.
The Covid-19 pandemic has put pressure on the health system which is already understaffed as more nurses were needed to care for patients and attend to the vaccination programme.
HSB spokesperson Ms Tryfine Dzukutu said the board was still taking applications from retired nurses.
“Government placed an advert on the recruitment of retired nurses to help increase the vaccination teams and accelerate vaccine rollout,” she said.
“So far, 88 retired nurses have been recruited, but we are still taking more and retired nurses who may be interested should come forward.”
Ms Dzukutu encouraged more nurses to respond to the call and assist in accelerating the pace of the vaccination programme.
In August, HSB chairman Dr Paulinus Sikhosana said the board had a database of registered retired nurses which were being targeted for the recruitment exercise.
He said the nurses, most of whom are above 65 years, would be stationed at vaccination points.
Although the pace of the vaccination programme has slowed down, the country is still expecting to inoculate 10 million people by year end.
With the decision to start vaccinating the 16-17 years age group, vaccination teams might become overwhelmed again as numbers start increasing. The Herald
