By Correspondent
The trial of fraud accused Masvingo City Council Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa failed to kick off at Masvingo Magistrate’s court Tuesday.
The trial failed to kick off as his lawyers gave excuses citing other commitments at High Court.
The matter was adjourned to 18 February.
Mukaratirwa was arrested last year by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) on criminal abuse charges.
ZACC alleges that Mukaratirwa fraudulently authorised the procurement of a vehicle that was more expensive than the one he was supposed to get.
Mukaratirwa made the initial appearance in court last year with the state temporarily letting him of the hook.
He is now back in court after the state summoned him to answer to the charges.
Former Masvingo Mayor Collins Maboke is also expected to testify during the trial.
Charges
The state alleges that Mukaratirwa authorised the procurement of a Toyota Prado VX-L as part of his conditions of service.
However he was supposed to have acquired a Toyota Prado VX 3.0 litre engine.
The latter was the vehicle which had been approved by Council and the Ministry of Local Government.
The approved vehicle, a Toyota Prado VX 3.0 litre engine was valued at US$109 151.
However the Toyota Prado VX-L, which he got, was valued at US$251 798.
This resulted in a loss of over US$140 000 by Masvingo Council.
Mukaratirwa, who won President Mnangagwa’s Best Town Clerk position in 2023, is also accused of misrepresentation.
The state alleges that he informed Masvingo City Council that a Toyota Hilux, donated by the African Development Bank for service delivery, had been allocated to him.
Due to that Council ended up transferring ownership of the vehicle to Mukaratirwa.