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Panashe Machakaire Herald Reporter
National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwes executive director Godfrey Mahachi’s has successfully applied for the temporary release of his passport.

Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko relaxed the bail conditions for Mahachi last week and granted the immediate release of his passport until April 23.

Mahachi wants to attend to Government business in Chimoio, Mozambique.

Mahachi is jointly charged with his deputy, Darlington Munyikwa, on allegations of allocating themselves fuel from the organisation without approval from the board or Ministry of Home Affairs. It is alleged that sometime in June 2013, the institution received a circular D20/8 dated June 21, 2013 from the Secretary for Home Affairs.

The court heard that the circular highlighted monthly allocations of fuel for business and personal use as follows — minister 800 litres, permanent secretary 600 litres and director 400 litres.

The circular applied to all departments in the Ministry of Home Affairs, except the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

In accordance with the circular, Mahachi and Munyikwa received a monthly allocation of fuel for business and personal use amounting 560 litres and 500 litres respectively, and also received additional allocations for specific trips.

The institution’s pool vehicle received a weekly allocation of 20 litres.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa further told the court that despite the ministerial directive, from early 2013 up to the end of December 2018, the duo connived to unlawfully and intentionally allocate themselves an extra 40 litres for “executive errands”, which was contrary to and inconsistent with their duties as public officers.

The court heard that they withdrew this fuel from the institution for family use without the approval ofy the board or the Ministry of Home Affairs.