The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
A RUSAPE farmer, Stanley Sakupwanya (Jnr) who was facing allegations of defrauding the Command Agriculture Scheme last week walked out of court a free man after he was found not guilty.
Sakupwanya (27) of Ripplemead Farm was accused of failing to account for 6x50kgs of Compound D fertliser worth $196,98 from the inputs he received from Government.
However, Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shane Kubonera, ruled that the State case against Sakupwanya was too weak and discharged him.
Sakupwanya’s lawyer, Mrs Memory Mandingwa of Mhungu and Associates, had applied for discharge at the closure of the State case.
Public prosecutor, Mr Tafara Chawatama, told the court that Sakupwanya failed to account for inputs worth $196,98 from the consignment he received from Government.
“On November 1, 2016, Stanley Sakupwanya collected Command Agriculture inputs as 500 litres diesel, 10 tonnes of Compound D fertliser and 25x25kgs of seed maize.
“On November 11, 2016, a team from the Manicaland Provincial Command Agriculture Scheme proceeded on a verification exercise and observed that 6x50kgs of Compound D fertiliser were missing and the accused person failed to account for the missing fertliser.
“The value of defrauded amounted to $196.98 and nothing was recovered,” said Mr Chawatama.
In an unrelated case, Washington Manyuchi who was also facing allegations of defrauding the Command Agriculture Scheme was removed from remand.
Manyuchi is alleged to t have received inputs enough for 20 hectares, but only planted two hectares and sold the remainder on the black market.
Manyuchi’s lawyer, Mr Taurai Khupe of Khupe Law Chambers, made an application for the removal of Manyuchi on remand after the State prosecutor had asked the court to further postpone the trial.
Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shane Kubonera, agreed with Mr Khupe and Manyuchi would be summoned back to court once the State is ready to prosecute him.
