HARARE magistrate Milton Serima yesterday ruled that a Harare man who allegedly stole $50 000 from Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri in a botched solar power system deal at his farm has a case to answer.
BY PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Brian Tarisai Kambasha, who is being charged with theft of trust property, had applied for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
Serima, however, dismissed the application and ruled that the State, led by George Manokore assisted by Sharon Mashavira, had proved a prima facie case against him and he had to be put on his defence.
“After hearing submissions from both counsels, the court is convinced that the State managed to prove its case against the accused. The application is, therefore, dismissed,” he said.
Kambasha was remanded to tomorrow when the defence is expected to open its case.
Allegations are that in April 2013, Kambasha approached Shiri and proposed to set up a solar power pilot project at the airforce chief’s Bindura farm.
It is further alleged that Kambasha told him the project would be rolled out in three phases.
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Shiri agreed to have the first stage of the project installed at his farm at a cost of $50 125.
On June 7 2013, Shiri entered into an agreement and paid the money in instalments.
Kambasha, it is alleged, only mounted metal stands for the plant and converted the money to his own use.
After two weeks, Shiri approached Kambasha who failed to explain why the project had stalled.
He allegedly failed to install the plant or reimburse the money, leading to his arrest on December 12 last year.
