The trial of a senior World Vision official, accused of stealing maize worth more than $17 000 meant for food relief, has been set for tomorrow after two failed attempts.
Samuel Muchavava (28), of Nketa in Bulawayo, was initially due to be tried on May 5, but proceedings could not commence and June 23 was set as the new trial date.
However, on the day it also failed to start as the court was committed with other matters, leading to the State, represented by Jerry Mutsindikwa, to further remand him.
Muchavava was employed by Soltec as a food inspector but seconded to World Vision’s offices located in the city’s Belmont industrial area. On April 6, World Vision received a 30-tonne consignment of maize meant for drought relief. Muchavava allegedly stole the maize and sold it to Masimba Dzomba of Hillside.
Dzomba allegedly took the delivery to a warehouse in Thorngrove for safekeeping.
However, the alleged offence was discovered by World Vision warehouse supervisor Christopher Mudakuvaka when he checked the truck and realised that the consignment had been stolen.
A police report was made and investigations led to Muchavava’s arrest and the recovery of the consignment at the warehouse.
Muchavava was again not asked to plead to theft when he briefly appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa.
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He is on $200 bail accompanied by stringent reporting conditions and was ordered to surrender his passport at the Clerk of Court.
State counsel Jerry Mutsindikwa had initially opposed granting of bail to Muchavava arguing he would abscond as he had provided false information to the police during investigations.
But the magistrate dismissed the State’s application saying it had failed to provide enough evidence to prove Muchavava was not a good candidate for bail, since he was of fixed abode and his residential address had been verified by police.
Muchavava was being represented by Tawanda Nathaniel Mashayamombe.
