Ousted Zanu-PF official in the dock

nyundoMutare Bureau
OUSTED Zanu-PF Manicaland Women’s League secretary for finance Pedigree Matara was on Thursday hauled before a Mutare magistrate on allegations of stealing $8 267 she withdrew from the league’s CBZ account in unclear circumstances.Matara appeared before Mrs Anniah Ndiraya who granted her $200 bail.

The case goes for trial on December 15. Mr Brian Goto is prosecuting while Mr Ashel Mutungura of Mutungura and Partners is representing Matara.

The money was withdrawn from the account leaving $1,50 just after last Thursday’s vote of no confidence passed by the executive against chairlady Cde Joyline Chipo Porusingazi and her vice Cde Loveness Mutezo on allegations of fanning factionalism and undermining the authority of President Mugabe.

The cash withdrawal was exposed on Wednesday after Matara was cornered by the interim executive to produce the money she withdrew from the bank and reportedly stashed under a bed at her house.

This prompted 37 members of the executive to immediately pass a vote of no confidence against her and called the police to investigate the issue.

The money was recovered and it will be produced in court as evidence.

During Wednesday’s meeting at Mutare Polytechnic, the interim executive chaired by Mrs Happiness Faith Nyakuedzwa immediately called for an audit of the league’s books and announced that it was pressing criminal charges against Cdes Porusingazi, Mutezo and Matara.

Police from the Criminal Investigations Department took Cde Matara and some league executive members to the police station for questioning and to make statements at the end of the tense meeting.

“We are pressing fraud charges against Cdes Porusingazi, Mutezo and Matara for misappropriating our funds. We believe several thousands of dollars were used for their personal use.

“An audit will be carried out that will show how the money sourced by the league was used because they were the ones who withdrew money from the bank.

“When we asked Matara to tell us how much we had in our account she said we only had a $1; can you imagine? We adjourned our meeting and told her to lead us to the bank so that we collect the bank statement and have a view of how the money was withdrawn.

“Before we got to the bank, she disclosed that she had withdrawn all the money by herself and hid it at her house.  We recovered the money amounting to $8 267 under a bed. After we got the bank statement we saw that there were amounts of up to $10 000 that were withdrawn at several intervals by the three.

“We want answers as to how the withdrawn money was used because from our own understanding that money did not benefit the league,” said Cde Nyakuedzwa.

Meanwhile, members of the Zanu-PF Women’s League met at Mutare Polytechnic yesterday where they elected Cdes Oppah Muchinguri (Mutasa), Monica Mutsvangwa (Zimunya-Marange), Jane Mawire (Mutare), Cecilia Maradzamunda (Nyanga) and Emelda Gondo (Buhera) to be members of the Central Committee.

The Women’s League’s national secretary for security Cde Shuvai Mahofa presided over the electoral process which was held in a peaceful and transparent manner.

 

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