BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
THE trial of former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) chief executive officer Frank Chitukutuku, who is facing fraud allegations involving US$20 million, has been moved to March pending finalisation of investigations.
Chitukutuku, who appeared before magistrate Hosea Mujaya, was remanded to March 4.
It is alleged that between January 2009 and May 31, 2016, Chitukutuku, being a public officer, corruptly influenced the awarding of contracts worth US$20 million for the rehabilitation of roads to Fremus Enterprisers (Pvt) Ltd without following tender procedures.
The State alleges that Chitukutuku connived with former Zinara technical director Julius Juma to award roadworks rehabilitation contracts in several rural district councils without following due processes.
Meanwhile, former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive Patrick Mavhura and his alleged accomplice, former head of finance and administration Benania Shumba, who are facing fraud allegations, also had their trial moved to February 2.
Mavhura is accused of conniving with the broadcaster’s former administration and human resources manager, Stephen Kundishora, to facilitate the change of ownership of a ZBC vehicle into Shumba’s name.
Allegations are that on August 17 last year, Shumba, aware that a board of survey should have been constituted, wrote a memorandum to Mavhura seeking approval to purchase the vehicle which she had been issued by the broadcaster.
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Accordingly, Mavhura then approved the purchase of the vehicle at book value of zero cost, instead of US$11 000.
It is the State’s case that Mavhura, Shumba and Kundishora then wrote to the Central Vehicle Registry authorising them to effect change of ownership of the ZBC vehicle into Shumba’s name.
