HARARE – Former Cabinet Minister Petronella Kagonye has been imprisoned for 16 months after being convicted for stealing 20 laptops that were meant to benefit schools in Goromonzi South constituency.
Harare regional magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro had initially sentenced Kagonye to 36 months in prison before setting aside 12 months for five years on condition of good behaviour.
A further eight months were set aside on condition that she restitutes US$10 000 equivalent to the laptops she stole.
Allegations against Kagonye arose after after she wrote a letter to the then minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Supa Mandiwanzira seeking computers for schools in Goromonzi South.
The State alleged and later proved that Kagonye were that she wrote to then ICT Minister Mandiwanzira in 2018 and he in turn wrote to Potraz asking that they facilitate a donation of computers through the e-learning project to the schools.
Twenty computers were then allegedly donated and were said to have been collected by Kagonye’s brother, Evans, on her behalf. It is said that Potraz made follow-ups on the donation and Kagonye failed to account for the computers.
