POLICE detectives investigating the Air Zimbabwe $10 million fleet insurance fraud have reportedly roped in the airline’s jailed former executive Grace Pfumbidzayi and senior official Maxwell Madziwa to turn them into State witnesses to testify against Transport ministry secretary Munesu Munodawafa.
BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
Munodawafa is currently on $1 000 bail following his arrest in April after he was linked to the alleged scam.
Sources close to the matter confirmed that Pfumbidzai (former AirZim legal secretary) and Madziwa (former human resources manager) were called in by the Serious Frauds Squad for interviews in the last couple of weeks. Pfumbidzai, who is serving a seven-year jail sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, was summoned to assist police with investigations.
“The calling of Pfumbidzai by Serious Frauds Squad is in connection with the investigation of Munodawafa and they are hoping to bring her as a witness in the matter,” the source said.
Pfumbidzai’s lawyer Andrew Muvirimi was not immediately available for comment. Muvirimi is still trying to get his client out on bail pending appeal against both conviction and sentence at the High Court.
Madziwa who is alleged to be part of the top brass that was involved in signing some of the payments to Navistar Insurance was also summoned to give a statement and possible appearance in court as a witness.
Madziwa’s lawyer Donald Sibanda told NewsDay his client had attended a meeting at the Serious Frauds Squad offices, but declined to speak in detail on the matter. National police spokesman Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba could not be reached for comment yesterday.
