Former National Biotechnology Authority chief executive Jonathan Muvandidza has been acquitted of all 24 charges of abuse of office and the single fraud charge he had been facing since his arrest in March 2021.
Muvandadza was accused of using NBA funds for personal use, spending more than US$6,000 on a holiday in South Africa, putting his gardener and housemaid on the NBA payroll among other charges, for allegedly damaging the authority of thousands of unapproved US dollars. Expenses.
He denied all charges when his trial began last year before Harare Regional Magistrate Ms Verisi Chakanyuka.
After a fully contested trial, Ms. Chakanyuka found Muvandadza not guilty and acquitted him, stating that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The charges against Mufandaedza covered a wide range of payments by the NBA, which he allegedly authorized, with these payments largely benefiting him.
In 2015, he and three others were allegedly paid $10,000 over a biosafety report prepared by an NBA subordinate.
In December 2013, he was allegedly paid $6,160 for a holiday in South Africa even though he was not entitled to holiday allowances. He is also alleged to have consumed more than 28,000 liters of fuel, which he is not entitled to.
The rents and rates were allegedly paid by the NBA, and a janitor, gardener and two security guards were placed on the NBA’s payroll at his rental property. Other allegations include purchasing cell phones, renting his buses to transport NBA employees, as well as purchasing a Land Rover Discovery in 2018 without board approval.
Mr Everson Chatambodza of Rubaya and Chatambodza Legal Practitioners successfully represented Mufandaedza while Mr Brian Vito represented the State. Announce
