The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
A RUSAPE man who defrauded the Command Agriculture Programme by accessing the inputs while he does not have a farm and later sold them on the black market was last week sentenced to four years.
Shepered Mukaka (35) who is known in political circles as Cde Beef sold the inputs valued at $2 112 and splashed the money on beer and household property.
Mukaka in covering up his crime went on to show the Command Agriculture team a field that was not his claiming that is where he had planted the maize. The team was convinced, but luck ran out of him as the field owner later spilled the beans.
Rusape provincial magistrate, Shane Kubonera, sentenced Mukaka to four years imprisonment, before setting aside one year on condition of good behaviour. A further year was set aside on condition that Mukaka restitutes $2 112.
Public prosecutor, Mr Tafara Chawatama, told the court that Mukaka misrepresented to the Makoni District Command Agriculture team that he was a genuine farmer and he was given seed maize and fertiliser.
“Sometime in November 2016, Mukaka approached the Command Agriculture officials in Makoni District at Chingaira Building in Rusape purporting to be a genuine farmer who wanted to benefit from the programme.
“Mukaka misrepresented to them that he owns five hectares of land and was contracted under the programme. He was given 5x25kgs of seed maize, 32x50kgs bags of Compound D fertiliser and 24x50kgs of AN fertiliser.
“During the same period, the accused person converted the inputs to other purposes instead of farming.
“On February 3 officials from the Command Agriculture Programme were tasked to assess progress at the accused person’s farm. Mukaka led them to Arrarat Farm which he claimed to be his and the team assessed the farm. The field had five hectares of green maize
“The case came to light when Farai Mapako approached the Command Agriculture Programme team on the same day and disclosed that the farm was his not Mukaka’s farm as he had claimed. On February 8 Mukaka was arrested and failed to account for the inputs valued at $2 112 and nothing was recovered,” said Mr Chawatama.
