Midweek Reporter
Masvingo-A popular hustler in Masvingo City, Tichaona Mawisire (49) has appeared in court for theft.
Mawisire is accused of illegally collecting money from villagers in Chief Bere’s area using a tree at the civic centre as an office.
Mawisire and his accomplice Wengedzi Mike (49) were collecting US$10 from each homestead purporting that it will be channelled towards the purchasing of equipment meant for land pegging which was to be conducted by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Masvingo.
The duo appeared in court last week on Saturday and remanded in custody.
Upon hearing about the matter Chief Bere paid a visit to The Midweek Watch offices and vehemently denied any knowledge about the operation which was being carried out by the duo.
“I know the men in question and they are under my chieftainship but I am not aware of the operation that they are accused of carrying out, I never sent them to collect money from villagers.
“When there are any funds that need to be collected I have certain channels that are laid down that we follow and we don’t do it at the civic centre,” said the youthful Chief Bere.
The state alleged that in July, 2024 the accused who are said to be village coordinators under Chief Bere, convened a meeting where they instructed village heads to collect US$10 from each homestead under their jurisdiction.
On August 9, 2024 about 15 Village Heads from Chief Bere area, gathered at Civic Centre Masvingo handing over cash collected from each homestead to the duo.
On the same day at around 12pm, a team from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Masvingo received a tip off to the effect that the two accused were receiving cash from the Village heads which had been collected from villagers.
No receipts were issued to the Village Heads who handed over the cash to the accused persons.
The team arrested the accused persons who were in the process of receiving the cash.
The duo said that they were sent by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Masvingo to collect the money for pegging on its behalf.
US$1 1 00 cash was recovered from the accused at the scene.
