ARDA Employee Arrested Over Theft Of US$300,000 Worth Farming Inputs
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of Blessing Benhura on fraud charges. He is accused of swindling the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) of nearly US$300,000 worth of presidential agricultural inputs.
According to ZACC, Benhura, working with accomplices who are still at large, allegedly submitted fake names for 14 farmers to ARDA and received 64 tonnes of Compound D fertiliser, 15 tonnes of wheat seed, and 60 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser.
It’s believed that Benhura and his associates then sold the stolen supplies in Harare and split the proceeds.
The scheme was uncovered during a routine ARDA inspection, which found that the listed farmers didn’t exist and no wheat had been planted.
Benhura was arrested on 15 December and appeared before Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on 17 December.
He has been remanded in custody until 19 December, when a bail ruling is expected.
