Agritex official in $11 000 fraud storm

A Chegutu Agritex extension worker Tendayi Rupiya has appeared in court on charges of forgery and fraud involving agricultural chemicals valued at $11 360 which were meant for distribution under the Command Agriculture Programme.

Rupiya (33), of house number 4 Heroes, Chegutu appeared before Chegutu Magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga last week on fraud charges.

Rupiya was granted $100 bail and ordered to continue residing at his given address.
It is the state’s case that on April 9, 2019 and April 17, 2019, the accused hatched a plan with a farmer Samuel Matara of Hunyani Estate, Norton, who is still at large, to steal Command Agriculture chemicals from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Chegutu where he is attached.

The accused then obtained a used Input release order form for Samuel Matara with serial number 100647B from his workplace on April 9, 2019.

He scanned it and made alterations by adding Spear 80kg, Lambda 80litres and Fusiland 110litres being agricultural chemicals before he issued Samuel Matara an Issue Voucher reference number 952836 which he tendered at GMB Chegutu and released the chemicals

On April 17, 2019, Rupiya again obtained a used Input Release Order form from his workplace with serial number 036700B with Samuel Matara’s name which he scanned and made alterations on it by adding Lambda 60 litres, Bentazone 80 litres, Fusiland 50litres being agricultural chemicals and again issued Samuel Matara an Issue voucher reference number 952842 which he tendered at GMB and obtained the chemicals.

The offence was discovered by Chipo Rusere (34) who is also employed at Agritex Chegutu as an Agricultural Extension Worker attached to GMB Chegutu.

She then reported the matter to the police on May 13.
The accused defrauded the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement a total value of $11 360 and nothing was recovered.