FORMER Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive Patrick Mavhura and ex-head of Finance, Administration and Human Resources manager Benenia Shumba, who are facing charges of corruption, have been released on $ZW5 000 bail each.
Mavhura and Shumba appeared before magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti and were released on bail, with stringent reporting conditions and were also told to surrender their passports.
The matter was postponed to October 8
Allegations against the two are that they siphoned more than US$340 000 in advertising revenue from the national broadcaster. According to court papers, Mavhura bought a house in Borrowdale, Harare, including vehicles and other properties.
An advertising company, Total Media, was asked to make advance payments of US$75 000 and US$25 000 to an Ecobank account belonging to Mugiya and Macharaga Law chambers in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$112 500 and US$37 000, respectively, the court papers read.
The former ZBC boss and his accomplice again entered into another agreement with Adrenalin Advertising agent, who also made an advance payment of US$100 000 in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$150 000 and under instruction from Shumba, Adrenalin Advertising deposited the money into Mugiya and Mucharaga law chambers’ Ecobank account.
Mavhura and Shumba left the national broadcaster early this month following the appointment of a new board.