The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has confirmed the arrest of Blessing Benhura on fraud charges linked to the alleged theft of Presidential agricultural inputs valued at nearly US$300 000 from the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority.
According to ZACC, Benhura is accused of colluding with accomplices, who remain at large, to defraud ARDA by submitting fictitious details for 14 farmers under a government-supported agricultural programme.
Through the scheme, he allegedly received 64 tonnes of Compound D fertiliser, 15 tonnes of wheat seed, and 60 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser.
Related Stories
Investigators say the inputs were later sold in Harare, with proceeds shared among the suspects. The fraud was discovered during a routine ARDA inspection, which revealed that the listed farmers did not exist and no wheat had been planted on the purported farms.
Benhura was arrested on December 15 and appeared before Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on December 17.
He was remanded in custody to December 19, pending a ruling on bail.
Leave Comments