Former Minister of State for Mashonaland West Province, Reuben Marumahoko, has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of fraud.

According to ZACC, Marumahoko is accused of misrepresenting his capability to plant 200 hectares of maize crop on irrigated land underneath the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) industrial farmers’ three way partnership programme.

As a end result, he acquired 2.5 metric tonnes of maize seed, 1300 baggage of Compound D fertiliser, and chemical compounds. However, as an alternative of planting the promised 200 hectares, Marumahoko allegedly planted solely 46 hectares and disposed of the remaining inputs.

This has led to ARDA struggling a prejudice of USD 37,950.

Marumahoko’s arrest comes after his spouse, Andy Maririmba, was arrested and appeared in courtroom on November 9, 2024, for the same offence. She is presently on remand.

Marumahoko was scheduled to seem on the Chinhoyi Magistrate Court right this moment, November 12, 2024, to face the allegations.

This isn’t the primary time farmers are arrested for misrepresenting their capability.

Last month, Clayton Ngoda, a 46-year-old agro-inputs seller from Mazowe, was arrested and charged with fraud for allegedly misrepresenting info to ARDA.

ZACC made the arrest on October 1, 2024, after investigations revealed that Ngoda falsely claimed to have 90 hectares of irrigated farmland underneath his management.

As a results of this misrepresentation, ARDA disbursed two tonnes of maize seed, 36 tonnes every of basal and topdressing fertilizers, and 260 liters of herbicide to Ngoda by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).

However, as an alternative of utilising all of the inputs for winter wheat farming, Ngoda allegedly solely used sufficient for 30 hectares and offered the remaining inputs, meant for 60 hectares, for private achieve.