Muchechetere: Fraud charge dropped

SUSPENDED ZBC group CEO Happison Muchechetere now faces a lesser charge of violating Procurement Act after prosecutors dropped fraud allegations.


Muchechetere was initially accused of defrauding the public broadcaster of $800,000 but he will now face charges of violating the Procurement Act.


The altered charges were revealed Tuesday when he appeared for his routine remand.


Muchechetere is now accused of unlawfully purchasing an outside broadcasting audio van from China National Instruments Imports and Exports Corporation for US$1 050 000 without going through formal tender.


Prosecutors claim that Muchechetere entered into a procurement deal with the Chinese company to purchase an audio outside broadcasting van (OB van) on January 18, 2013.


According to papers before the courts, on April 23 last year, the CEO then, misrepresented to ZBC's executive committee that some $495,000 secured from BancABC would be enough to purchase the audio van, as well as a cargo van and a crew bus.


Muchechetere is alleged to have travelled to China alone where he signed an agreement concerning the inspection of the van which was never carried out by other members of the executive committee.


According to the signed agreement, the inspection was reportedly conducted by the full committee from 17 to 19 June 2013, but prosecutors will argue that no inspection was ever carried out.


Defence lawyer, Keith Kachambwa of Dube, Manikai and Hwacha, Muchechetere, asked magistrate Hosea Mujaya for time to secure evidence from China to bolster his client's defence.


Prosecutor Beven Murevanhema strongly opposed the request accusing the defence of time wasting antics.


The magistrate however, granted the postponement.
Muchechetere’s lawyer also indicated to the court that he would be filing an application for exception to the charge.


He said the State has not disclosed the offence committed by his client since ZBC was not a procuring entity under the relevant legislation.