In a brazen case of alleged corruption and theft, two officials from the Department of Social Development, alongside four ZANU PF members and a truck driver, have been arrested for stealing 373 bags of wheat meant for drought relief in Chiwundura Ward 10. The stolen wheat, valued at approximately USD 11,190, was part of a government-led initiative to alleviate food shortages in drought-stricken areas.
The accused include Maureen Choto (43), a Child Protection Officer and Social Development Officer based in Gweru, and Charles Chanhuhwa (28), a former Graduate Intern at the Department of Social Development. They are alleged to have conspired with ZANU PF Chiwundura Ward 10 Councilor Sonny Chitarata, Ward 10 Youth Chairperson Janet Chinyama, Lilian Magwai, and truck driver Nqobile Mpofu to divert and sell the wheat for personal gain.
According to court documents and investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the theft occurred on December 3, 2024, after the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) dispatched 1,978 (50kg) bags of wheat to the Gweru District Social Welfare Office for distribution to vulnerable households in Ward 10. The consignment, transported by seven trucks, was received by Choto, who was leading the deployment team.
However, instead of distributing the full consignment, Choto, Chanhuhwa, and Chitarata allegedly facilitated the theft of 373 bags. Investigations revealed that only 1,605 bags were distributed to beneficiaries, while the remaining wheat was siphoned off and sold to local villagers.
In a detailed account of the scheme, ZACC investigators established that Chanhuhwa instructed offloading personnel to leave 50 bags in Mpofu’s truck for transportation back to Gweru. Mpofu reportedly raised concerns that 50 bags would arouse suspicion, prompting the group to offload 40 bags, which were subsequently sold. The remaining 10 bags were transported back to Gweru.
Further evidence indicates that Chitarata, Chinyama, and Magwai were actively involved in selling additional bags of wheat later that evening after the trucks had departed. In total, 363 bags of wheat, intended for drought relief, were unlawfully diverted and sold.
The accused were arrested in separate operations. Chitarata, Chinyama, Magwai, and Mpofu were apprehended on January 23, 2024, while Choto and Chanhuhwa were taken into custody on February 4, 2025. All six appeared before the Gweru Magistrates Court, where they were remanded out of custody on bail set at USD 100 each.
They were ordered not to interfere with state witnesses and to reside at their given addresses until their next court appearance on February 20, 2025.
