FORMER Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development deputy minister Douglas Karoro’s fraud case has been put on continuous roll after the defence counsel applied for postponement.
Karoro is charged along with his accomplice Lovejoy Ngove.
Malvern Mapako, the defence counsel, told Harare magistrate Taurai Manuwere that Admire Rubaya and Batanai Pesanai who are the lead lawyers are reportedly handling other matters at the High Court and pleaded that the matter be moved to April 10.
The State led by prosecutor Ephraim Zinyandu told the court that it did not receive a notice from Rubaya to the effect that the lawyers were attending to other matters.
The matter was deferred to April 10 to 12.
Karoro and Ngowe allegedly misappropriated agricultural inputs under the Presidential Inputs Scheme worth US$43 000 in March last year.
The inputs were meant to benefit farmers in Mbire constituency.
GMB regional enterprise risk officer Norman Severa, who is a State witness, told the court that trucks which were being used by the pair to carry the consignments were not contracted by GMB which was contrary to company procedure.
- Maize shortage a result of politicisation of inputs
- Deputy minister spends weekend behind bars
- Deputy minister in GMB theft scandal
- Maize shortage a result of politicisation of inputs
Keep Reading
He told the court that he did not know where the consignments were being taken, adding that there were no records on the beneficiary lists to indicate how they were distributed.
Karoro allegedly collected seed from Ngowe on several occasions using his vehicles and having the seed marked on the dispatch vouchers as for the needy in the constituency.
The two allegedly converted the farming inputs to their own use.
Ngowe was allegedly found in possession of maize seed in his house at GMB Mushumbi Pools.
GMB is said to have lost US$18 030 worth of maize seed due to Karoro and Ngowe’s illicit deals.
It is further alleged that in March 2022, Karoro and Ngowe allegedly met at Mahuwe shopping centre in Mushumbi Pools to seize vegetable seed kits.
On March 23, 2022, Karoro allegedly received 5 000 vegetable combo kits comprising seed for rape, onion, texas grano, carrots nantes which he was supposed to hand over to GMB Mushumbi depot under the Presidential Inputs Scheme.
Karoro and Ngowe allegedly did not deliver the vegetable combo kits and converted them to their own use with Ngowe reportedly ordering subordinates to enter fraudulent details in the records.
GMB was prejudiced of about US$25 000 worth of seed due to the alleged misrepresentation.
