FORMER Zanu PF youth leader, William Gerald Lumumba Mutumanja, appeared at Harare Magistrates’ Court on Saturday facing allegations of stealing $8 000 in a botched currency trading deal.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Mutumanja (29) popularly known as Acie Lumumba, was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Josephine Sande, who remanded him to March 23 on free bail. Allegations are that on February 27 this year, Mutumanja met the complainant Graham Tineyi at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, where the latter was advised he could only take $2 000 out of the country.
The State alleges, Tineyi then asked Mutumanja if he knew somebody at the airport where he could leave his money. Mutumanja allegedly referred Tineyi to a travel agent identified as Abigail Chipuru where they left the money as they both flew to South Africa.
On February 28, Mutumanja allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to Jethro Tonderai Maposa requesting him to collect $8 000 from Chipuru. It later emerged that Mutumanja allegedly sent the message without Tineyi’s knowledge and consent.
It is alleged Maposa collected the money and on Mutumanja’s orders sold the cash through a bank transfer.
The money was allegedly first transferred into Maposa’s CBZ bank account and later to Mutumanja’s wife, Lilian Rufaro Madyira’s bank account.
Chipuru, who is the informant, reported the matter to the police, leading to Mutumanja’s arrest.
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The total amount stolen is $8 000 and nothing was recovered.
Progress Maringamoyo appeared for the State.
