Hurungwe council officials sentenced to 174 years for fraud

📅 Published: August 21, 2025

Curated by AllZimNews.com

The convictions come at a time when the Second Republic has declared zero tolerance for corruption, pledging to strengthen transparency and accountability in public institutions.

Investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) revealed that the officials siphoned funds through fake construction claims and by diverting building materials.

The trio fraudulently claimed that Marloshac Investments, a private company, had constructed the Kaspikiri Causeway Bridge in Hurungwe, and authorised a payment of over US$18 000 to the company.

However, the real builder, local contractor Kainos Mupiwa, was never paid for the work.

The funds were instead shared among the accused persons.

The gang also diverted plumbing materials worth US$3 889 that had been procured for Chiedza Clinic, channelling them to personal projects, despite the clinic requiring urgent rehabilitation.

Further, they falsely claimed that Marloshac Investments had built ablution facilities at the same clinic, prejudicing the council of another US$6 075.

They also procured building materials worth US$8 501 from Bels Trade, a company owned by one of the accused, but the materials were never delivered.

In total, Hurungwe RDC suffered a loss of US$47 266. 21, none of which was recovered.

Marloshac Investments director Marvin Matiza was convicted on two counts of fraud and sentenced to 36 years in prison.

Separately, Mupamaonde and Makama were also convicted in an earlier case alongside Batsirayi Nyamayaro, director of Anstand Investments (Pvt) Ltd, for defrauding the council of US$17 990 earmarked for the construction of the Chehoko Causeway Bridge.

Instead of fulfilling the tender, Nyamayaro colluded with the two officials to hire Mupiwa, who built the bridge with community support but was paid only US$1 450.

For that offence, the three were each sentenced to 18 years in jail, with three years suspended on condition of good behaviour.

They were also fined US$5 000 each, while Anstand Investments was fined US$5 000.

Should the company fail to pay, the Sheriff of the High Court has been authorised to seize and auction its property.