Harare, Zimbabwe — The trial of former Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke and suspended Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society (HMMAS) CEO Everisto Rukasha on fraud charges related to a US$400,000 deal has been postponed to November 25.
The court had originally scheduled the trial to begin yesterday, but the delay was granted to allow both defendants time to prepare, as they had only recently received the relevant court documents.
The case centers around a 2014 transaction in which Rukasha and Kereke signed an agreement for Kereke to sell his Fortress Hospital to HMMAS.
According to the State, Kereke appointed Newton Madzika, managing director of Health Body Images, to oversee the completion of the sale on his behalf.
Records show that HMMAS made a full payment of US$400,000 on November 7, 2014, fulfilling its part of the purchase agreement.
However, the prosecution alleges that years later, on March 18, 2022, Kereke, in collusion with Rukasha, falsely informed HMMAS that the medical aid society still owed him the same amount, effectively attempting to claim double payment for the hospital.
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The State contends that the misrepresentation was an attempt to defraud HMMAS by reasserting a debt that had already been paid. Both Kereke and Rukasha now face fraud charges for their alleged involvement in the scheme, with the trial anticipated to shed further light on the details of the transaction and the evidence of any wrongdoing.
Kereke, who is already serving a prison sentence on unrelated charges, and Rukasha, who has been suspended from his position as CEO of HMMAS, will appear in court together as co-defendants.
The upcoming proceedings on November 25 are expected to address the allegations in full, with both sides preparing to present their cases to the court.
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