Masvingo Town Clerk faces court for abuse of duty and fraud

ZIMSPHERE 

MASVINGO – Masvingo City Council Town Clerk, Edward Mukaratirwa, appeared before the Masvingo Magistrates' Court facing charges of criminal abuse of duty and fraud, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reported.

Image: Masvingo Mirror 

Mukaratirwa allegedly authorized the procurement of a Toyota Prado VX-L as his service vehicle instead of the approved Toyota Prado VX 3.0 litre engine. 

The City of Masvingo and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had sanctioned the latter model. 

The Toyota Prado VX 3.0 litre engine was valued at $109,151, whereas the Toyota Prado VX-L was valued at $251,798.

In a second count, Mukaratirwa is accused of misrepresenting to the Masvingo City Council that a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle had been allocated to him as his condition of service vehicle. 

The vehicle, in fact, had been donated by the African Development Bank for the maintenance of water supply and sanitation infrastructure within Masvingo. 

Based on this misrepresentation, the Masvingo City Council agreed to transfer ownership to Mukaratirwa.

Mukaratirwa was remanded out of custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on August 9, 2024.