Gandawa, Zimdef CEO’s dockets to be merged

By The NewsDay | Nov. 18, 2016 | 2 Min read

Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) chief executive officer Fredrick Mandizvidza’s fraud charges docket will be merged with that of Higher Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa and Nicholas Mapute on November 30, the court heard yesterday.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Mandizvidza was arrested in October by members of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on $122 800 fraud allegations, while Gandawa and Mapute, who is the Zimdef principal director of finance, were arrested early this month on the same charge and are on $500 bail each.

Mandizvidza’s lawyer Pisirayi Kwenda consented to the postponement of the matter before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti and gave a notice to file for further remand refusal if the State failed to provide a trial date on November 30.

According to the State, sometime in November last year and at Zimdef head office in Harare, Mandizvidza acted in connivance with Gandawa and Mapute unlawfully produced fake documents purporting the trustee of the fund, who is the minister, had authorised and approved the purchase of 10 heavy-duty printers worth $95 800 when in actual fact no such authorisation and approval had been made.

When the suspects released the money to Wisebone Trading, a company that specialises in agro-chemicals, no printers were supplied. The suspects are also accused of unlawfully and corruptly processing personal loans amounting to $24 000.

The State alleges as a result of their non-compliance with procedures, Zimdef suffered actual prejudice of $122 800 and nothing was recovered.

The State further alleges sometime between December 2015 and April this year, Gandawa corruptly concealed his personal interest in various transactions when he engaged his company, Fuzzy Technologies, where he is a co-director with his daughter Clarence, to supply the ministry with 170 computers worth $107 525. He is also said to have supplied additional 75 computers worth $42 250 and materials for use at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair worth $185 525.