MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Gweru City Council clerical assistant (meter reader) Tafadzwa Mukwazhe today appeared in court charged with criminal abuse of office after he allegedly solicited for US$50 from a resident in return of lowering meter readings.
Mukwazhe (37) appeared before provincial Magistrate Tendai Killian Mahwe who postponed the matter to May 9 for continuation of trial.
Mukwazhe, who was represented by Thomas Militao of Militao Legal Practitioners pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared in court.
It is alleged that sometime in August 2022, Mukwazhe approached Memory Marangarire of Ascot infill and offered to temper and adjust her water meter so that it would read lower figures than actual.
The court heard that the accused then demanded USD50 for the unlawful service, but the complainant indicated that she didn’t have such kind of money.
In September, Ostein Matembudze, husband to Marangarire received a shocking water bill of ZW$122 484.91 as compared to ZW$37 566.10 received in August 2022.
Shocked by the bill, Matembudze approached Mukwazhe who once again demanded USD50 to adjust the water meter in favour of the complainant.
Noticing the continued unlawful demand by the accused, the complainant then reported him to his superiors at council offices who in turn reported the matter to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
On 7 November 2022, the court heard that Mukwazhe once again demanded the USD50 to temper with the meter.
It is alleged that on the 15th of November the accused told the complainant that he was coming to his house adjust the water meter.
Pursuant to his unlawful intention the accused then went to Matembudze and removed the water meter in the presence of Marangarire.
He dismantled it into pieces in order to access the dial unit and ultimately temper with its proper function.
In his evidence in chief in court today, Council finance deputy director, Owen Masimba told the court that Mukwazhe’s act was contrary to his duties as a meter reader.
“As per his job description, the accused was not allowed to dismantle the meter or even to receive the money from the clients. He was supposed to report the fault meter to his superiors,”.
Masimba added that after the investigations by Mukwazhe’s immediate supervisors it was discovered that Matembudze was charged 100 kiloliters instead of 20 kiloliters as per the estimate regulations.
Quizzed by Mukwazhe’s counsel to clarify if it is possible that the meter reader can charge his or her own figures.
Masimba told the court that Council rely with what the meter readers recorded as they are trained to execute their duties.
However, in his defense Mukwazhe denied being trained to read water meters or given a job description by the local authority.
Vivien Chindedza prosecuted.
