SIX LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FACE FRAUD CHARGES

By SBT | Harare

Six officials from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Local Government and Public Works have appeared in court facing allegations of fraud after allegedly claiming travel and subsistence allowances twice for the same assignments.

The officials include Khonzani Ncube, the ministry’s Chief Director of Local Authorities, who appeared before Harare magistrate Learnmore Mapiye on Saturday, 7 November, alongside Pamela Chitengu, Annah Takaendesa, Sebele Likel, Maxwell Mabhuro and Ruvimbo Chahuruva.

They were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Friday, 6 November. The alleged offences relate to a nationwide Local Authorities Systems Audit launched by the ministry in April 2025, covering all 92 local authorities.

According to the State’s case, a ministry circular stipulated that local authorities would meet the travel and subsistence expenses of officials deployed to conduct the audits, while the ministry would provide transport. Prosecutors allege that Ncube authorised a request for the ministry to pay allowances to 54 officials, including herself.

The other five accused were members of an audit team deployed to Mashonaland East Province, where the exercise covered 10 local authorities. The State alleges that the officials claimed payments from both the ministry and the local authorities for the same assignments. Court allegations further state that the team submitted claims to the ministry for work conducted between 11 and 31 May 2025, despite allegedly receiving allowances, fuel and toll fees from the local authorities.

Prosecutors allege that although the team spent 40 days in the province, it claimed allowances for 45 days. The payments allegedly received from the councils were also not disclosed to the ministry, according to the State. The alleged double claims are said to have prejudiced the State by ZiG360,644 and the 10 local authorities by US$19,419.

Ncube is facing an additional charge of criminal abuse of duty. All six accused were granted bail. Ncube was granted bail of US$500, while each of the other five officials was granted US$100. The matter was remanded to 24 November 2026. The accused have not been convicted, and the allegations remain before the courts.

Zimbabwe local government officials fraud case