The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Post Correspondent—
TWO farmers who allegedly failed to account for inputs they received from the Government under the Command Agriculture scheme have been arrested and brought before the courts on fraud charges.Stanley Sakupwanya Jr (27), of Ripplemead Farm and Godfrey Gwanyamwanya (61) of Valahala Farm were arraigned before Rusape magistrate Mr Shingi Mutiro last Friday.
First to appear in court was Sakupwanya, who was represented by Mr Taurai Khupe, of Khupe Law Chambers Legal Practitioners.
Sakupwanya was not asked to plead and was released on $150 bail.
State prosecutor Mr Tafara Chawatama told the court that Sakupwanya failed to account for 6x50kg of Compound D fertilisers, valued at $196, 98, which were part of a consignment of inputs received from Government.
“On November 1, 2016, Stanley Sakupwanya collected Command Agriculture inputs — that is 500 litres diesel, 10 tonnes of Compound D fertilisers and 25x25kgs of seed maize. On November 11, 2016, a team from the Manicaland provincial Command Agriculture proceeded on a verification exercise and observed that 6x50kgs of Compound D fertilisers were missing and the accused person failed to account for them. The value of defrauded fertilisers amounted to $196.98 and nothing was recovered, said Mr Chawatama.
Mr Mutiro remanded the matter to December 9, 2016 for trial.
On Gwanyamwanya, who was not represented, Mr Chawatama said the accused allegedly defrauded the Government 30x50kgs of fertilisers.
“On October 19, 2016 at around 1000hrs, and at Grain Marketing Board Rusape, Godfrey Gwanyamwanya entered into a contract with Government of Zimbabwe to acquire inputs for his 60 hectares of dry land.
“On November 1, 2016 the accused person then collected Command Agriculture inputs – that is 500 litres diesel consumed at NOCZIM Rusape, eight tonnes of Compound D fertilisers and 20x25kgs of seed maize. On November 11, 2016 a team from Manicaland Provincial Command Agriculture proceeded to accused’s farm on a verification exercise and it was discovered that 30x5okgs of Compound D were missing and the accused person failed to account for the shortfall. The value of defrauded fertilisers is $984 and nothing was recovered,’’ said Mr Chawatama.
Mr Mutiro postponed the matter to December 9, 2016 for trial.
