The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A DEPUTY director in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development who is accused of stealing Cyclone Idai donations worth $3 000 wept in court uncontrollably after the presiding magistrate denied her bail. The suspect Christine Chideme (63) of House Number 85 Malberton, Southerton in Harare appeared before resident magistrate Mr Farai Gwitima who remanded the matter to April 17.
Mr Gwitima advised Chideme to apply for bail at High Court as she was facing a serious offence. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Yesterday, her lawyer Mr Langton Mhungu of Mhungu, Kwirira and Associates was still waiting for bail ruling after he made an application at the High court.
Public prosecutor, Mr Themba Dhliwayo, told the court that on April 3 at around 7pm, the accused person who was driving a Toyota Landcruiser (WAG-CD23) heading to Chipinge was stopped by Terrence Majonga, a soldier, while she was coming from Silver Stream command centre.
“Majonga requested to search the vehicle and the accused person accepted.
“She told Majonga that she was carrying some groceries which were on a voucher she was given by members of the civil protection committee at Silver Stream in Chimanimani,” he said.
Mr Dhliwayo said after conducting the search Majonga discovered that the groceries were not tallying with what was written on the voucher.
“After finalising the search Majonga found out that the groceries which were written on the voucher were fewer than the goods loaded in her vehicle. Upon interrogation Chideme failed to give a satisfactory statement leading to her arrest.
“Some of the goods which were stashed at the back of the vehicle included 6×35g peanut butter, 3×30 cotton pads, 6×10 Happy pads, 11×500ml Bonaqua mineral water, 2×125 Tanganda tea three leaves, 4×2,5kg porridge, 12×125g Arenel biscuits, 4×2,5tsabanga porridge, 5×2kg rice, 2×6 pack candle, 8 boxes of 6×25g bathing soap,1kg mega salt, 6×2litre orange crush and 12 pure drop cooking oil,” said Mr Dhliwayo
