A 39-year-old police officer stationed in Karoi, Gideon Msambakurima, has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for allegedly defrauding the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) of over $4,700 worth of fertilizer.
Msambakurima was a participant in the ARDA Joint Venture Farming program, where he was allocated 8 metric tons of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer for his 20-hectare maize plot. However, authorities allege that he manipulated the system by reusing the same batch number to unlawfully acquire an additional 6 metric tons of Windmill Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer beyond his initial allocation.
On February 18, 2025, Msambakurima appeared before Provincial Magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe at the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court. He was granted bail of $200 and is set to return to court on March 4, 2025. The case is being prosecuted by Brian Machekera.
In a separate incident, ZACC also arrested three individuals, including a ZANU PF councillor, over allegations of stealing and selling Presidential agricultural inputs.
Chishamiso Linda Ellah, the Councillor for Ward 11 in Makoni District, was arrested alongside Enita Choga, a former Grain Marketing Board (GMB) employee, and Crispen Makoni. The trio is accused of diverting 400 bags of 50kg fertilizer, valued at $12,000, and selling them to buyers in Rusape.
They appeared before Mutare Magistrate Annie Ndiraya, facing charges under Section 113 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act. Each was granted $200 bail, and the case has been postponed to a later date. The State’s case is being led by prosecutor Talent Nyamuzuwe.
