Former Nketa/Emganwini legislator Obert Manduna has been released from custody after the High Court in Bulawayo granted him bail of US$100 (approx. R1,800). The ruling comes as the ex-Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) politician appeals his conviction and two-year prison sentence for fraud.
The case, which has captivated the nation, centres on allegations that Manduna swindled a local woman out of thousands of dollars in a fraudulent property deal. His release signals a new chapter in the ongoing legal saga.
Obert Manduna Granted Bail In High Court Fraud Case
Manduna’s legal representative, Mr Tanaka Mungayi of Tanaka Law Chambers, has launched a vigorous appeal against the magistrate’s court verdict. The core of their argument is that the matter should never have been treated as a criminal prosecution.
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Mr Mungayi contends that the lower court made a significant error in its judgment. He stated,
“The appeal is founded on the basis that this is a purely civil matter with no criminal element whatsoever. The learned magistrate erred by imposing a custodial sentence of 24 months, which should have attracted an option of a fine or community service.”
This defence challenges the very nature of the charges that led to Manduna’s arrest at his Ascot residence last year by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
The Details of the Alleged Fraud
According to the evidence presented in court, the scandal unfolded between October 2020 and February 2022. Manduna, a former MP, is accused of using a falsified power of attorney to convince Ms Sithulisiwe Sibanda that he had the authority to sell her a residential stand, numbered 7278 in Cowdray Park, for US$6,500 (approx. R117,000).
Unbeknownst to Ms Sibanda, the stand had reportedly been repossessed by the Bulawayo City Council, rendering any sale void. After paying Manduna a sum of US$5,900 (approx. R106,200) for the property, she grew suspicious of the transaction and alerted the authorities, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial.
Despite pleading not guilty, Manduna was convicted by Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea. His original 54-month sentence was partially suspended, conditional on his reimbursing the complainant.
Second Accuser Withdraws Charges
In a related development, the case has taken another surprising turn. A South Africa-based businessman, Mr Farai Kwenda, who had previously accused Manduna of defrauding him in a similar manner, has officially withdrawn his charges.
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This withdrawal occurred after Manduna fully restituted Mr Kwenda. Confirming the development, Mr Kwenda filed an affidavit at the Bulawayo magistrates’ court to formally drop the allegations.
During his initial mitigation plea, Manduna appealed for mercy from the court, emphasising his role as the primary breadwinner for his family. His release on bail pending appeal now allows him to continue fighting his conviction from outside a prison cell.
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The post Former CCC MP Obert Manduna Granted Bail In High Court Fraud Case appeared first on iHarare News.
