HARARE, Zimbabwe — Five people, including senior officials from the Hurungwe Rural District Council and a private contractor, have been remanded in custody by the Harare High Court’s Anti-Corruption Court in connection with a fraud and money laundering case involving more than US$47,000 in public funds.
The accused are Hurungwe RDC CEO Luke Kalavina, council engineers Romeo Tapiwa Mupamaonde and Alfred Makama, and Mavern T. Matiza, director of Marloshac Investments (Pvt) Ltd., which was allegedly used to siphon the funds.
Prosecutors said the group fraudulently claimed that Marloshac Investments built the Kaspiriki Causeway Bridge, while the actual contractor, Kainos Mupiwa, was never paid. Marloshac was paid US$18,800, which was allegedly shared among the accused.
The group is also accused of diverting plumbing materials worth US$3,889.75—meant for urgent repairs at Chiedza Clinic—for personal use, and falsely claiming Marloshac constructed ablution facilities there, leading to an additional loss of US$6,075.37.
Further allegations include the procurement of building materials worth US$8,501.09 from Bels Trade, a company linked to one of the accused. The materials were never delivered.
The total prejudice to the council stands at US$47,266.21, with nothing recovered.
Judgment is expected on July 8.
