Former CCC MP Obert Manduna Jailed for Defrauding Homeseeker
Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) lawmaker Obert Manduna has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for fraud by the Tredgold Magistrates’ Court in Bulawayo.
Magistrate Richard Ramaboea handed down the sentence on Wednesday, suspending six months of the jail term for five years on the condition that Manduna does not commit a similar crime during that time. Another two years of the sentence will be suspended if Manduna pays back US$5,900 to the victim by October 30, 2025.
Manduna was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining US$5,900 from Sithulisiwe Sibanda between October 2020 and February 2022. He posed as an agent selling Stand 7278 in Cowdray Park, falsely claiming to have power of attorney from the property’s rightful owner, Benard Mujuru. However, Mujuru had never authorised the sale, and the property had already been repossessed by the Bulawayo City Council.
The state prosecutor, Brenda Nyoni, pushed for a jail sentence, highlighting that none of the stolen money had been recovered so far. She noted Manduna delayed making efforts to repay the money and warned he might offend again, especially since he is still active in the construction industry—a point the court rejected. Despite this, Nyoni agreed that Manduna was not a threat to society.
In his defence, Manduna was described as a respected community leader with a clean past. He is known for his work against drug abuse among youths and runs several charitable organisations. The court took these positive factors into account and aimed to give a sentence that would allow Manduna to rehabilitate.
Manduna, who represented the Nketa and Emganwini constituencies in the past, was arrested at his home in Kenilworth Towers, Ascot, last year. Investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) revealed that he had no fixed address and had even threatened suicide during the investigation.
This case stirred controversy earlier in the year when Provincial Magistrate Eva Matura was arrested and charged with criminal abuse of duty. She allegedly authorised Manduna’s release from Khami Remand Prison without following proper legal procedures—bypassing bail applications, receipts, or High Court orders. Matura, who had originally denied Manduna bail on June 25, is currently out on $200 bail.
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The post Former CCC MP Jailed for Defrauding Homeseeker appeared first on iHarare News.
