MASHONALAND Central Provincial Affairs minister, Martin Tafara Dinha, appeared at the Bindura Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with criminal abuse of office as the government steps up its efforts to weed out corruption within its rank and file.
BY CHARLES LAITON
Dinha (53), who is also chairperson of the Mashonaland Central provincial lands committee, also faces bribery and money laundering charges after he allegedly demanded $60 000 from a Centenary farmer Guy Frank Dollar as protection fee to enable him to retain his Tzoro Farm that had been compulsorily acquired by the State.
The minister was not asked to plead when he appeared before provincial magistrate Elisha Singano who granted him $1 000 bail and remanded him to October 19 for trial at the High Court.
Dinha is being represented by Harare lawyer Tapson Dzvetero.
State allegations were that sometime between 2012 and 2013, Dollar clashed with newly-resettled farmers who had been allocated A2 plots at his farm.
Zanu PF administrator for Muzarabani district, Saineti Madzamba, later informed Dinha about the incident.
The State alleges, Dinha then advised Madzamba that Dollar was supposed to pay a $60 000 security fee in order for him to retain his farm.
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However, because of the illegitimate pressure exerted upon him, the State alleges, Dollar sourced for the money which was later paid to Dinha on March 28, 2013.
The State alleges, on the day in question, Madzamba was driven to Dinha’s house in Bindura by Dollar’s employee, one Shelton Chiparausha Chinyere, to hand over the alleged bribe. When they got to Dinha’s house they were allegedly told that the minister had since gone to China.
Dollar later called Dinha over the phone, who then allegedly instructed him to hand over the money to one Tsitsi Nyika.
On the same day, the State alleges, Dinha’s wife phoned Nyika and instructed her to deposit $40 000 into Dinha’s POSB account (number 11731000-4276). On April 17 of the same year, upon his return, Dinha made a transfer of $30 000 into his other POSB account (number 117670000067).
The State further alleges, on various occasions between April 2013 and July 15 this year, Dinha made several withdrawals, leaving a balance of $1 012.
In his statement to the police, Dollar claims he later personally met Dinha who thanked him for the money. Dinha allegedly claimed to have sent the money to “the higher authority”.
When trial commences next month, the State is expected to call Nyika, Madzamba, Lloyd Musatukana, Dollar, Chinyere and Jeremiah Murenje to testify in the matter as they are alleged to have witnessed the deal as it transpired.
However, Dinha’s lawyer Dzvetero, said: “my client believes that these are trumped up charges. The complaint was lodged by people seeking political mileage.”
