Rutendo Chirume
Beleaguered Masvingo Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa’s short-lived relief has evaporated after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) revived charges of fraud and abuse of office against him.
Mukaratirwa, who appeared in court on 18 February, 2025, returned to court today 25 February 2025, following some months of relief when the NPA last year suspended prosecution to gather more evidence.
Mukaratirwa was first arrested in July 2024 and he made numerous court appearances in the course of the year before the charges were suspended.
Appearing before Masvingo Magistrate Innocent Bepura, Mukaratirwa was ordered to return to court on Monday, March 03, 2025. He was represented by his lawyer Msindo Hungwe.
In the gallery to support Mukaratirwa were many CCC councillors including Sabina Chikwangwani (Ward 1), Maxwell Madhuna (Ward 3), Bernard Muchokwa (Ward 9), Alaika Time (proportional representation, and Esther Zishiri (proportional representation).
Magistrate Bepura said the court should be ready with its witnesses when the case resumes next week, with three Masvingo City Council employees having submitted their affidavits.
It is the State’s case that Mukaratirwa authorised the procurement of his condition of service vehicle, a Toyota Prado VX-L instead of a Toyota Prado VX, 3.0 litre engine which had been approved by the City of Masvingo and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
The Toyota Prado VX 3.0 litre engine was valued at US$109 151 whilst the Toyota Prado VX-L was valued at USD251, 798, according to the NPA.
This means that the town clerk allegedly abused his position to get a vehicle that cost more than double the one that had been approved.
Public officials are allowed to buy their service vehicles at book price after a specified period.
On count two, Mukaratirwa is alleged to have advanced a false ownership claim to a double cab Toyota D4D vehicle allocated to the engineering department where he had worked as deputy city engineer prior to his elevation to the post of town clerk.
Allegations are that the vehicle that he allegedly claimed as part of his perks was, in fact, a donation by an international financial institution, the African Development Bank to be used for the municipal water and sanitation programme.
He misinterpreted to Masvingo City Council that a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle had been allocated to him as his condition of service vehicle yet the vehicle was given as a donation by the African Development Bank for the maintenance of water supply and sanitation infrastructure within Masvingo.
Acting on the misrepresentation, the Masvingo City Council transferred ownership of the vehicle to Mukaratirwa.
