ZIMSPHERE
CHEGUTU – Former Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga has been granted $600 bail by the Chegutu Magistrates' Court as he faces two counts of theft related to agricultural farm inputs.
According to the State, Matonga is accused of unlawfully taking two John Deere tractors from Monchris (Landos) farm in Selous on December 10, 2021. The tractors, valued at $70,000, were later recovered at Matonga's Chigwell farm in Chegutu.
In the second count, Matonga is jointly charged with his employee, Wasili Wisili.
The State alleges that on February 19, 2016, Talbec Investments Pvt Ltd, represented by David Leonard Van Breda, entered into a joint venture with Matonga, who owns Chigwell farm. The agreement provided Talbec Investments with farming rights on the farm for up to 15 years.
Upon occupying the farm, Talbec Investments equipped it with implements and machinery valued at $414,888. However, after operating for six years, the complainant's employees were evicted by Matonga on December 11, 2021, leaving behind all their equipment and consumables.
The State further alleges that in December 2021, both Matonga and Wisili instructed Chigwell Farm employees to load the complainant’s farming equipment onto vehicles on multiple occasions, transporting them to an unknown destination. Wisili was granted $100 bail.
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