Three officials from the Hurungwe Rural District Council (RDC) have been sentenced to 18 years each for stealing US$17,990 that was allocated for the construction of the Chehoko Causeway Bridge. The individuals involved are Council Engineer Romeo Mupamaonde, his assistant Alfred Makama, and Batsirayi Nyamayaro, who is the Director of Anstand Investments. The case unfolded after it was discovered that the trio had hired a contractor to build the bridge but arranged for the construction to be carried out using free community labor. Despite this, the contractor was paid only US$1,450 for the project, while the rest of the funds amounting to US$16,540 could not be accounted for and were effectively stolen.

Following a court trial, each of the three men received an 18 year prison term, with three years of each sentence suspended on condition of good behavior. In addition to the custodial sentences, each was fined US$5,000. Anstand Investments, the company involved in the scheme, was also fined. The court ordered that if the company fails to pay the fine, a sheriff’s auction of its assets will be conducted to recover the outstanding amount.

This case has drawn significant attention as it highlights the misuse of public funds and the exploitation of community resources. The bridge, which was supposed to benefit from the full allocation of government funds, was instead built with unpaid local labor, while the majority of the money intended for the project was diverted for personal gain. The judicial response, which included both lengthy prison sentences and financial penalties, was intended to serve as a deterrent against corruption in public infrastructure projects and to reinforce the importance of accountability in the management of development funds.

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