Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission chief executive Ngonidzashe Gumbo, was yesterday jailed for 10 years for defrauding the commission of $435 000. Gumbo, who is a former Senior Assistant Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, had five years suspended on condition he is not convicted of any case involving dishonesty in the next five years.
A further three years were set aside on condition that the House Number 20 Northend Road, Highlands that he bought using the tainted money is forfeited to the State.
Effectively, Gumbo will serve two years in prison.
Retired regional magistrate Mr Rodgers Kachambwa, ruled that paperwork giving effect to the forfeiture of the property must be done by August 31 this year.
The magistrate found that Gumbo benefited from the offence and that the amount involved was quite substantial.
It was the court’s finding that Gumbo’s moral blameworthiness was high considering that he was a former senior police officer and that he held a high position of authority.
Law officer Mrs Sharon Fero represented the State.
Gumbo bought offices to be used by the commission in Mt Pleasant, Harare using Government funds, but registered the property in the name of a company he jointly owned with four of his subordinates.Herald
The State proved that in 2010, ZACC approached the Home Affairs Ministry seeking alternative accommodation when their landlords were about to evict them.
The ministry instructed Gumbo to look for alternative property and he identified 872 Betterment Close in Mt Pleasant that belonged to Diane Spalletah.
Gumbo went back to the ministry where he requested for $1 680 000 to buy the property and Government deposited $1,7 million into a ZACC account.
He instructed his subordinates Sukai Tongogara, Edwin Mubataripi, Christopher Chisango and Gibson Mangwiro to form a shelf company called Property Mortgage where they became directors with equal shares.
A ZACC administration and human resources manager deposited the $1 680 000 into a CBZ account for Perpetual Properties trust account.
It is believed that Gumbo’s daughter was an administrator for Perpetual Properties and she was the one who did the transactions.
The property was bought for $1,2 million, which was fully paid to the owner Spalletah by Perpetual Properties. Perpetual Properties deducted their commission amounting to $44 500, leaving a balance of $435 500.
The court heard that $160 000 was used for the purchase of a property owned by Poptechnologies where Gumbo and Popatlal Samir are directors.
A person called Da Silva was given $100 000, while Samir received $95 000.
Gumbo is said to have allocated $80 000 for “renovations.”
A further three years were set aside on condition that the House Number 20 Northend Road, Highlands that he bought using the tainted money is forfeited to the State.
Effectively, Gumbo will serve two years in prison.
Retired regional magistrate Mr Rodgers Kachambwa, ruled that paperwork giving effect to the forfeiture of the property must be done by August 31 this year.
The magistrate found that Gumbo benefited from the offence and that the amount involved was quite substantial.
It was the court’s finding that Gumbo’s moral blameworthiness was high considering that he was a former senior police officer and that he held a high position of authority.
Law officer Mrs Sharon Fero represented the State.
Gumbo bought offices to be used by the commission in Mt Pleasant, Harare using Government funds, but registered the property in the name of a company he jointly owned with four of his subordinates.Herald
The ministry instructed Gumbo to look for alternative property and he identified 872 Betterment Close in Mt Pleasant that belonged to Diane Spalletah.
Gumbo went back to the ministry where he requested for $1 680 000 to buy the property and Government deposited $1,7 million into a ZACC account.
He instructed his subordinates Sukai Tongogara, Edwin Mubataripi, Christopher Chisango and Gibson Mangwiro to form a shelf company called Property Mortgage where they became directors with equal shares.
A ZACC administration and human resources manager deposited the $1 680 000 into a CBZ account for Perpetual Properties trust account.
It is believed that Gumbo’s daughter was an administrator for Perpetual Properties and she was the one who did the transactions.
The property was bought for $1,2 million, which was fully paid to the owner Spalletah by Perpetual Properties. Perpetual Properties deducted their commission amounting to $44 500, leaving a balance of $435 500.
The court heard that $160 000 was used for the purchase of a property owned by Poptechnologies where Gumbo and Popatlal Samir are directors.
A person called Da Silva was given $100 000, while Samir received $95 000.
Gumbo is said to have allocated $80 000 for “renovations.”
