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‘Zanu PF youth leader, cop swindle $12 000’

News
ZANU PF youth leader Lewis Matutu and a police officer Paridzirai Dube have been taken to the High Court by a Zvishavane businessman, Tendai Mpofu, who is accusing the pair swindling him of more than $12 000 in a botched mining deal.

ZANU PF youth leader Lewis Matutu and a police officer Paridzirai Dube have been taken to the High Court by a Zvishavane businessman, Tendai Mpofu, who is accusing the pair swindling him of more than $12 000 in a botched mining deal.

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Matutu, who is the national youth league secretary for administration and student at Midlands State University student, is also accused of swindling Mpofu of thousands of dollars in another deal involving the sale of Zanu PF regalia during the party’s conference in December.

Mpofu’s lawyer Arthur Mabhena on Tuesday said they were now waiting for a trial date from the Circuit Court.

According to court papers, Mpofu cited Matutu and Dube, a police officer who was a guarantor when both parties settled for an out of court settlement in which Matutu pledged to reimburse Mpofu his money in instalments before the accused defaulted.

According to an affidavit signed by Matutu on April 14 2013, and guaranteed by Dube, the two agreed to pay Mpofu back his money in instalments.

“I, the accused Lewis Matutu (58-2517700P03) agree that I owe the complainant Tendai Gerald Mpofu (67-109050T03) $12 880-00 in the case number CR 1127/02/13 recorded at Harare Commercial Crime Unit. I undertake to repay the complainant the total amount as follows- 12/04/13 — $380, on or before April 30 2013 — $1 000, $500 on or before month ends May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December 2013,” reads the affidavit.

“I will pay $625 on or before each month end from January to December 2014. Failure to do so, the complainant will take back the matter to the courts.”

According to court papers, upon withdrawal of the case at Rotten Row, Matutu reimbursed $380 to plaintiff before sending $100 to Mpofu via mobile money transfer on April 18, 2013 before disappearing. Matutu and Mpofu entered into a mining partnership in which the complainant would fund all operations while the accused would direct operations on the ground.

Profits would then be shared equally. The accused then registered two gold-rich claims in Zvishavane under his name after receiving money from the complainant.

The accused began giving excuses over the mining deals and the complainant threatened to report the matter to police. It is reported that after sensing danger, Matutu then offered Mpofu another deal to supply Zanu PF regalia for sale at the party conference held in Gweru in 2012. Mpofu using his own moneyproduced the regalia which he delivered to Matutu in Gweru for him to sell.

After the conference the accused failed to account for a huge chunk of missing stocks and cash realised from the sales which led to the complainant to report the two counts to police leading to Matutu’s arrest.

However both parties agreed on an out of court agreement that saw Matutu escaping standing trial on fraud.