Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) acting general manager, Richard Chingodza (41), and his deputy, Hannan Tongai Chitate (35), appeared in court yesterday facing fraud allegations involving more than $600 000.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Chingodza and Chitate were granted $5 000 bail each by Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande, who ordered them to surrender their passports, not to interfere with State witnesses and report every Friday at CID Serious Fraud, Harare Central Police Station.
They were remanded to September 12.
The complainant in the matter is the MMCZ chairperson, Francis Gudyanga, who is also the permanent secretary in the ministry of mines and mining development.
Chingodza, who is the deputy general manager (administration), had been acting general manager from November 2011 to June this year. Chitate is the finance manager and also used to act as deputy general manager during the same period.
The State alleges the MMCZ reporting structure is that Chingodza reports directly to the permanent secretary, while Chitate reports to him.
The State further alleges that all MMCZ employees require approval from their superiors whenever applying for loans.
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Allegations are that contrary to their duties and without following procedures, Chingodza and Chitate, acting in connivance, fraudulently awarded themselves acting, education, long service and backpay allowances and loans totalling $625 226,88 from June 2013 to April 19 this year.
The State alleges Chingodza directly benefited $390 985,69 from the scam. The money was directly deposited into his CBZ bank account, while Chitate received
$234 241,19, which was deposited into his MBCA Bank account, and nothing was recovered.
Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.
