FORMER Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief
executive Patrick Mavhura and ex-head finance, administration and human
resources manager Benenia Shumba are likely to be charged with 18 more cases
involving corruption, a court heard yesterday.
This was said by the investigating officer handling the
pair’s criminal abuse of office case Detective Assistant Inspector John
Bvundura while testifying during the duo’s bail application at the Harare
Magistrates’ Courts.
The State was opposing the application. Det Asst Insp
Bvundura said police were already seized with the 18 new cases.
“There are more cases with more values than the one which
is before the court today, there are about 18 more counts,” he said.
“The cases were reported at CID Anti-corruption and
investigations are still going on that is why they have not yet been included.
“They might abscond because they know they have other cases
coming.”
Asst Insp Bvundura further stated that the seriousness of
the offence was another ground that may force the duo to abscond trial.
‘‘There is overwhelming evidence as there are Memorandum of
Agreements signed by Mavhura as the ZBC representative,” he said.
“They also received bank statements from advertising
agents.”
The prosecutor Mr George Manokore said because of the
porous nature of the country’s borders, the duo was likely to abscond if the
State conceded to granting of bail.
“Mavhura is also a person of influence and some of the
witnesses were under his command, so if he is granted bail he will interfere
with witnesses,” he said.
Through their lawyer, Brighton Mapadza, Mavhura and Shumba
had indicated that they had no other pending cases as the investigating officer
failed to provide evidence of such in court. Mapadza cited that the two are of fixed abode and have
families.
He said the duo was also willing to submit their passports
and abide by any reporting conditions. Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai
Muchuchuti-Guwuriro rolled the matter over to today for bail ruling.
Allegations are that the two siphoned more than US$340 000
in advertising revenue from the national broadcaster.
According to court papers, Mavhura bought a house in Borrowdale,
vehicles and other properties.
“An advertising company Total Media was asked to make
advance payments of US$75 000 and US$25 000 to an Ecobank account belonging to
Mugiya and Macharaga Law chambers in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$112
500 and US$37 000 respectively,” the court papers read.
“The former ZBC boss and his accomplice again entered into
another agreement with Adrenalin Advertising agent who also made an advance
payment of US$100 000 in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$150 000.
“Under instruction from Shumba, Adrenalin Advertising
deposited the money into Mugiya and Mucharaga law chambers’ Ecobank account.”
Mavhura and Shumba left the national broadcaster early this
month following the appointment of a new board. Herald
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