The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Aspindale’s supply chain manager, Safuli Zhoya, has appeared before magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, facing charges of criminal abuse of duty.
He is accused of facilitating the sale of fertiliser worth US$32 per 50kg bag for just US$1 each. Zhoya was granted US$200 bail.
The GMB is represented in the case by Sheunesu Mapondera, the provincial enterprise risk officer, while the State is represented by prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi.
According to the State, on 9 May, while carrying out his duties, Zhoya allegedly arranged a sale of 599 x 50kg bags of Compound D Superfert fertiliser to Madamara Investments (Pvt) Ltd.
As there were no fertiliser stocks at the GMB Aspindale depot, the buyer was directed to collect the consignment from the GMB Mt Hampden depot.
Zhoya allegedly instructed depot clerk Moleen Nyakudanga to issue a receipt for the buyer, stating the fertiliser was written off and to be collected at Mt Hampden.
He also directed Bright Tembo, the assistant depot manager, to deposit the US$600 cash payment into GMB’s FBC Bank account.
Tembo reportedly complied and returned with a deposit slip, after which Nyakudanga issued receipt number 198982 confirming the transaction.
The buyer’s representative, whose name was not disclosed, was then escorted to Mt Hampden by Emmanuel Shamiso Makondo, also reportedly acting on Zhoya’s instructions.
Upon arrival, the incoming Mt Hampden supply chain manager, Madeline Nyere, questioned the legitimacy of the transaction and consulted the outgoing manager, Lee Kwenje, who said he had no knowledge of the sale.
Nyere then verified the status of the fertiliser stock and discovered it was in good condition, with no documentation to support that it had been written off.
She further consulted Wonderful Chidhaura, the GMB operations officer responsible for managing stock disposal records, who confirmed there was no record of the fertiliser being classified as written off.
Investigations also revealed that the fertiliser in question was intended for grain exchange programmes and remained valued at US$32 per bag in GMB records, with no official adjustments made to the price prior to the sale.
As part of his bail conditions, Zhoya has been ordered not to visit the Aspindale and Mt Hampden GMB depots, and must report once a week to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
More: The Herald
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