Senior Army Official Dies A Day Before He Was Due In Court For Corruption
Peter Muchakazi, 56, an army procurement officer, has reportedly died just a day before he was due in court for a fraud case involving more than US$20m siphoned from Zimbabwe’s ministry of defence.
Some reports, however, say the rot prejudiced the ministry of more than RTGS300 000.
The development was confirmed by the ministry of defence’s secretary Mark Grey Marongwe confirmed who however could not be drawn to reveal the cause of death. Marongwe said:
The family of the deceased will be in a better position to comment about how he died.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Muchakazi died a few hours after complaining of chest pains.
It is alleged that Muchakazi was the ringleader of a well-orchestrated fraud whereby fake invoices were raised for cleaning services allegedly received from Maids on Wheels (Pvt) Ltd between March and June last year.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in December last year investigated some army officials including Muchakazi’s co-accused – Francis Mapfumo, Jonathan Tandangu, Dhuvai Muzenda and Maria Fungisai Chiurira for being part of the rot.
Meanwhile, Danison Muvandi, the director of finance and human resources, with whom Muchakazi and accomplices allegedly connived with to dupe the government is still at large.
More: Sunday Times
