Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Former Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Reuben Marumahoko, has been cleared of allegations that he defrauded the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) of US$37,950 worth of farming inputs.
The Chinhoyi Magistrates Court acquitted Marumahoko, ruling there was no evidence to prove he had committed fraud.
He was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in November 2024 after being accused of applying for inputs under ARDA’s commercial farmers’ joint venture programme, claiming he could plant 200 hectares of maize on irrigated land.
It was alleged that Marumahoko received 2.5 tonnes of maize seed, 1,300 bags of Compound D fertiliser, and various chemicals under the programme, but only planted 46 hectares and disposed of the rest, causing ARDA a loss of US$37,950.
Marumahoko, who also served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the court that he had not misrepresented his plans.
He argued that his irrigation equipment had been vandalised and that a drought-affected season meant he could only plant 46 hectares, which prevented him from meeting the programme’s targets.
Magistrate Solomon Jenya ruled there was no proof of fraud, leading to Marumahoko’s acquittal.
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