Transport ministry deputy director Ernest Shenje g...

Transport ministry deputy director Ernest Shenje granted US$500 bail

Michael Mashiri

Deputy Director of Roads Services in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Enerst Shenje, who was accused of fraudulently making a compensation claim for a property affected by the construction of the Mbudzi Interchange in Harare, has been given bail.

Shenje, appeared before Donald Ndirowei at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts accused of fraud.

The complainant in this matter is Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

Shenje was granted US$500 bail, and will appear in court on March 6 for his routine remand.

The State, through prosecutor Zvikomborero Mupasa, alleges that in 2021, the Government through the Ministry, embarked on a project to construct a multi-level interchange at Mbudzi roundabout, which is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen roads

The project affected 135 residential, industrial and commercial properties around the Mbudzi roundabout.

As a result, the Government set up a fund to compensate the affected property owners after a valuation process.

The State alleges that in 2022, the Ministry decided to value properties that were going to be affected by the construction of the Mbudzi Interchange.

Subdivision A of subdivision B of Delft of Hopley, held under the Title Deed of one Geoffrey Bannister, was one of the affected properties.

When compensation was due to be given for the property, Shenje allegedly connived with Levy Idana, who is still at large, and other individuals, yet to be accounted for, to forge an agreement of sale using an old title deed with the name of John Maloney, predecessor in title to Bannister, claiming that Idana had purchased the property and was now the one due to be compensated.

Idana went on to submit the fraudulent agreement of sale and the old title deed to Shenje, who in turn proceeded to fast-track the paperwork for payment of the compensation.

On December 8 and 28, Idana received US$100 000 respectively from the Treasury under the instruction of the Ministry of Transport to make a total of US$200 000.

Due to this misrepresentation by Shenje, the ministry lost US$200 000 and a potential prejudice of US$803 417.

Shenje was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.