7 Senior Soldiers Arrested For Stealing Cyclone Idai Donations & Army Food Rations
Seven senior officers in the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) have been held in detention for the past three months without trial, The Standard reports.
The seven soldiers were arrested on allegations of stealing donations meant for survivors of Cyclone Idai and food rations for army recruits.
The officers were identified as Lieutenant Colonel Chivhima, Major Kativhu training coy, Major Masembura, Captain Ncube, Woll Dzoma and an S/Sergeant Madzore.
They are all being held at the Harare Remand Prison under military supervision.
Lawyers representing the soldiers, Chiturumani and Zvavanoda Law Chambers, on August 1 wrote to the ZNA’s legal department seeking for an explanation on why the accused where denied bail during the court-martial. They wrote:
We have been favoured with instructions by seven accused persons currently undergoing a court-martial/ military court trial for theft and abuse of office charges kindly note our interest.
Our instructions are to demand within the next seven days from today (01/08/19) the availing of those reasons denying them bail to us or at your clerk for our convenience.
Chivhima is accused of stealing 200 litres of fuel in Chimanimani, which was meant for Cyclone Idai relief efforts.
He was also implicated in the theft of food rations meant for the Zimbabwe Commando regiment stores, alongside Kativhu, Masembura, Ncube, Dzoma and Madzore.
The stolen rations included mealie meal, rice, cooking oil, eggs, vegetables, meat, fruits, potatoes and sausages.
