Story by Fungai Jachi
Uzumba legislator Wiriranai Muchemwa and Councillor Knowledge Chipindu who are accused of stealing mealie meal valued at US$12 000 that was intended to benefit Murehwa community have been released on US$300 bail.
The two were ordered to report once every week to the police and reside at the addresses they gave to the court.
They were also remanded to the sixth of February next year.
The State alleges that on the 10th of April this year a representative from Black Cube Mining Company, Wang Qun, received a WhatsApp message from Muchemwa requesting US$12 000.
Muchemwa purportedly indicated that the funds would be used as a revolving fund for infrastructure development in the constituency from April 2024 to April 2025.
The prosecutor further alleged that a meeting was convened to discuss the request, which both accused attended, alongside Tinashe Choto and executives from Yang Sheng and Inducorn.
During the meeting, Muchemwa claimed that each company was required to contribute US$12 000.
However, Yang Sheng and the complainant informed the accused that they intended to donate mealie meal, while Inducorn decided to contribute US$4 000.
The mealie meal was meant for donation at a presidential event at Nhakiwa Business Centre, Murehwa.
Subsequently, the complainant and YangSheng agreed to pool their resources to purchase the mealie meal.
The complainant paid US$12 000 to Jason Wu of YangSheng, who coordinated the purchase of 50 tonnes of maize to produce 40 tonnes of mealie meal.
The two later took the mealie meal to Murehwa Milling Company for packaging into 10 kg bags.
They allegedly requested the milling company to sell the mealie meal on their behalf, generating US$10 000 from the sales.
The situation escalated when another local councillor, Lovemore Matanhire, approached Wang Qun for another donation, only to be informed that they had already contributed.
Wang then contacted Muchemwa, who denied any arrangement concerning the mealie meal.
Upon questioning Mutizwa, Muchemwa learned that Chipindu and Choto had taken possession of it.
Despite being presented with evidence of their actions, Muchemwa did not take steps to account for the missing mealie meal.
