Nelson Chinembiri (36) and Maxwell Mukono (34) both
detective constables based at Marondera Criminal Investigation Department are
expected to appear at the magistrates’ courts this afternoon facing charges of
criminal abuse of duty.
Charges against the two arose on October 24 this year when
Diana Dune, an Agritex officer in Macheke was issued with 75 x 50kgs of
compound D fertiliser and 75x10kgs of maize seed at Timbermills Grain Marketing
Board [GMB] in Macheke.
The inputs were issued under the Presidential Inputs scheme
and were meant to be distributed to farmers in Ward 34 Macheke.
Instead of taking the inputs to Ward 34, Diana Dune in
connivance with Solomon Makaka decided to sell the fertiliser to Maxwell
Takawira, a businessman in the area.
On November 3, 2023, the accused received information about
the theft of the fertiliser and proceeded to Munamba Business Centre, where
they managed to recover the 75 x 50kgs fertiliser at Maxwell Takawira’s shop.
Instead of confiscating all the fertiliser, the duo
allegedly demanded that Maxwell Takawira pay them so that they would not
recover all the fertiliser.
To mitigate his loss Takawira allegedly agreed with the
arrangement and gave the detectives USD500.
As a result, the duo went on to seize only 20 x 50kgs
fertiliser leaving behind 55 x 50kgs.
The duo then instructed Takawira to move the remaining 55
bags of fertiliser to a secure place so as to conceal evidence of it ever being
there.
It is also alleged that on November 4 and 5, the two
arrested Solomon Makaka and Diana Dune and took them to Marondera magistrates
for initial remand.
They misrepresented on the request for remand form that
they had recovered 20 x 50kgs of the stolen fertiliser yet in actual fact they
knew they had left 55 x 50kgs behind.
Later during the same week, the two detectives met with
Takawira at N Richards Shops in Marondera and demanded some more bribe money
and he gave them USD100.
On a different occasion, the two met again with Takawira at
the Marondera Post Office and they were given USD130.
All in all, they received USD730 from Takawira and on
November 14, 2023, detectives from ZACC received a tip-off about the duo’s
shenanigans and went to Munamba Business Center where they recovered the
remaining 55 bags of fertiliser from Takawira.
The two, it is alleged, knowingly acted contrary to their
duties as public officers as they knowingly omitted to seize the 55 bags of
fertiliser after receiving an undue payment of USD730 from Takawira. Herald
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