Former Victoria Falls mayor Somveli Dlamini has been sentenced to 30 months in jail for fraud involving US$15,000.
Hwange regional magistrate Mark Dzira sentenced Dlamini on Thursday after finding him guilty of fraud.
Dlamini was convicted of misrepresenting to the Victoria Falls City Council and acquiring a stand using somebody’s name.
He was arrested by a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) crack team on charges of fraud involving a commercial stand valued at over US$90,000.
Dlamini misrepresented to Victoria Falls City Council when he purported to be Valentine Munyaradzi Maseko so that he could benefit from a stand despite having benefited before.
On August 15, 2022, Dlamini misrepresented and purported to be Valentine Nyoni from whom he bought the stand.
Using his capacity as mayor, Dlamini unlawfully and intentionally made a misrepresentation and purported to be Valentine Munyaradzi Maseko from whom he had in 2003 purchased Stand Number 1139 under the Wood Road Housing Scheme.
He was supposed to pay a deposit of US$25,000 but paid US$10,000 and the balance was supposed to be paid within five days.
After failing to raise the balance, Dlamini paid ZW$7,5 million through a bank transfer.
ZACC picked the anomaly and arrested him.
The magistrate said Dlamini abused his duty as a public officer when he misrepresented to the council and acquired a stand using somebody’s name.
