By Staff Reporter
Zanu PF Zaka District Secretary for Women’s Affairs, Confidence Mukau, has been acquitted of theft of trust property charges related to a diesel fuel scandal.
Mukau was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in October 2024, and her case had been ongoing since then. In a judgment dated April 17, seen by TellZim, Masvingo Magistrate Franklin Mkwananzi found Mukau not guilty of theft of trust property as defined in Section 113(2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, and acquitted her.
The charges stemmed from a contract in March 2020, where Mukau’s company, MITMIC Investments, was engaged by Zaka Rural District Council to supply 20,000 liters of diesel fuel for road rehabilitation projects. The council allegedly received only 10,539.98 liters, with Mukau accused of diverting the remaining 9,460.02 liters for personal use. Despite receiving ZWL$500,000 for the fuel, Mukau’s company failed to deliver the full amount, prompting several follow-ups from the council.
Her acquittal follows that of Zaka RDC Chairperson Fungai Maregedze, a close ally, who was also cleared by the same court on charges of abuse of office. Maregedze is married to Zaka Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee Chairperson and Zaka South MP Clemence Chiduwa.