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Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba

Lovemore Mataire and Elita Chikwati Harare Bureau
TOP Zanu-PF officials were yesterday arrested for allegedly defrauding more than 15,000 farmers of their hard-earned cash through a dubious input scheme.Police arrested Zanu-PF national youth league director Cde Tapiwa Zengeya and Patience Chipere — one of the directors of Lasch Investments — a company engaged to supply farmers with some inputs.

Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, yesterday confirmed the arrests saying two other people wanted in connection with the case were on the run.

“We’ve arrested two officials and police are keen to investigate Nelson and Sylvester Mahupete,” she said.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Ignatius Chombo, condemned the corrupt conduct of the officials saying the party would take necessary disciplinary measures.

Addressing journalists at Zanu-PF headquarters yesterday, Cde Chombo said the party would take necessary disciplinary measures against the accused officials and that police already had been briefed about the matter.

“As a party, we condemn the abuse of hard earned resources of our populace. Any empowerment initiatives must be in the interest of the majority and not for the benefit of a selected few and must be clear, transparent, fair, legal and above board,” said Cde Chombo.

Cde Chombo deplored Lasch Investments for failing to meet their obligations, leaving farmers stranded with no recourse against a background of the commencement of a promising rainy season.

He said Lasch Investments Company had approached the party’s Youth League to enter into a joint venture support with farmers so as to increase production and productivity through an input support scheme.

It was envisaged that farmers would make contributions and in turn get agricultural inputs.