ZNA accountant, data capture in court for fraud

Michael Mashiri

An accountant and a data capture with the Zimbabwe National Army, who allegedly defrauded ZWL$268 648 594, have been denied bail.

Nzuzo Tshuma, 34, of Mukonono, Marimba Road, and Dominic Musarurwa, 35, of Mufakose, appeared before magistrate Apolonia Marutya at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with fraud.

They are denying the allegations.

They will appear in court on February 19, for bail application.

The complainant in this matter is the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs represented by the legal officer Beck Christopher Maphosa.

The Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs has a constitutional mandate to pay statutory benefits, including school fees to Veterans of the Liberation Struggle and their dependents.

Tshuma was seconded from the Zimbabwe National Army to the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs as an assistant accountant responsible for preparing the final list of beneficiaries to be forwarded to the chief accountant for payment.

Musarurwa was also seconded from the Zimbabwe National Army to the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs as a data capture.

It is alleged that from January 2020 to September 2023, the two accused persons and their accomplices who are still at large, created ghost schools and beneficiaries, which they used to siphon money from the ministry.

The State alleges that the two would forward such to the chief accountant for payment, claiming that they are real beneficiaries.

The offence was discovered after an audit was done and unearthed that the two stole money amounting to ZWL$268 648 594.