NEW: ZACC detains four for fraud and bribery related to agricultural inputs

The Sunday Mail

Online Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has apprehended four people – Ebba Kuipa, Simon Nyathi, Lyton Ngunga and Admire Makumbi – on charges of fraud and bribery related to farming inputs.

Makumbi, who is an Agritex employee, reportedly connived with the trio and misrepresented to the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) that they owned land in order to access farming inputs.

“It is alleged that Ebba Kuipa, Simon Nyathi and Lyton Ngunga, in connivance with Admire Makumbi, an Agritex supervisor, misrepresented to Arda that they each owned 200, 100 and 100 hectares of arable land, respectively, in order to receive farming inputs under the Arda Joint Venture Programme,” said Zacc.

“As a result of their misrepresentations, they received seed, Compound D and AN fertilisers, among other inputs, which they sold.”

Kuipa is also being charged with bribery after she offered US$2 000 to Zacc investigators to release Simon Nyathi, who had been arrested.

The accused individuals are scheduled to appear in court this week.