A ZIMBABWE National Water Authority (Zinwa) employee based at Dema Growth Point appeared before Harare provincial magistrate, Tendai Mahwe on Friday charged with illegally connecting his clients to the authority’s piped water system and collecting connection fees from them.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Tendai Mashoko (43) of Marondera was granted $200 bail and remanded to August 2 for trial at Chitungwiza Magistrates’ Court on charges of public abuse of office.
Allegations against Mashoko, who is employed as a water supply operator at Zinwa offices, Dema, Seke communal lands, are that sometime between June 2013 and February 2014, he collected money meant for water connection fees from Dema residents and illegally connected them to Zinwa’s piped water system and converted the proceeds to his own use.
The State alleges Mashoko was supposed to direct the residents to pay their connection fees at Zinwa billing offices before connecting them to the water system.
The alleged scam came to light on February 20 last year after Zinwa internal investigations department received a tip-off from members of the public about Mashoko’s criminal activities, culminating in his arrest.
The State alleges Zinwa lost $18 077 in potential revenue.
