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NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Raphael Mushanawani, has been granted $500 bail by magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa as he denied allegations of fraud and abuse of office in a procurement deal said to be valued at more than US$1.2 million.
Presiding magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa in her bail ruling stated that the State had failed to present sufficient evidence to justify his continued detention on fraud charges while the accused CEO has brought in evidence denying the charges against the main allegations and he does not seem to be a candidate of flight risk as the matter is not posing danger to him.
However, Mushanawani was ordered to surrender his passport, not interfere with witnesses, and to report to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) offices every Friday between 6am and 6pm. He is expected back in court on 22 October.
Magistrate Gofa ruled that Mushanawani was a suitable candidate for bail, saying the state had not proved he was likely to abscond. “He is not a flight risk, brought in documents defending against the allegations and the defence has raised issues that warrant a full trial,” Gofa said.
By Ruvarashe Gora
His lawyer, Admire Rubaya, argued that the state had failed to provide compelling evidence against his client. Rubaya added that Mushanawani had cooperated with authorities from the onset.
The state opposed bail, insisting that Mushanawani’s senior position NetOne gave him influence over key witnesses. Investigating officer Owen Mutembwa told the court that seven of the eight witnesses identified so far are his direct subordinates.
Court papers also show that the executive has a history of international travel and was inconsistent about his port of entry into Zimbabwe, which the prosecution suggested could raise flight risk concerns. Investigative Officer presented internal NetOne contracts, supplier emails, budgets, and procurement plans allegedly signed by Mushanawani, arguing that these documents place him at the centre of the suspected irregularities.
The state alleges that Mushanawani, working with some NetOne officials, fraudulently authorised parallel contracts with suppliers while the company was already implementing a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system supplied by Farevic Systems. Payments amounting to US$654,331.60 were allegedly made to Lunartech Solutions without NetOne board approval, with the total exposure running into US$1.2 million.
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