Chiropa
was
also
ordered
to
repay
US$8,100
to
Marume,
the
remaining
balance
of
the
stolen
amount.
He
was
charged
with
theft
and
money
laundering
and
appeared
before
Mutare
provincial
magistrate,
Annie
Ndiraya.
The
accused
initially
faced
bail
but
later
violated
his
conditions
and
was
re-arrested.
Despite
pleading
not
guilty,
he
was
convicted
due
to
strong
evidence.
Chiropa
had
argued
that
he
was
a
wealthy
healer
and
that
the
charges
were
false,
claiming
he
only
knew
Marume
and
her
domestic
worker,
Precious
Nyasha
Manyawu,
through
a
church.
However,
it
was
revealed
in
court
that
Chiropa
and
Manyawu
had
a
romantic
relationship
and
conspired
to
steal
the
money.
Court
evidence
also
showed
that
Chiropa
had
spent
the
stolen
money
on
luxury
items,
including
a
Toyota
Runx,
beds,
wardrobes,
and
a
large
TV.
Manyawu,
who
was
involved
in
the
theft,
is
serving
time
in
Mutare
Remand
Prison.
Chiropa
claimed
to
be
not
only
a
traditional
healer
but
also
a
truck
driver
and
businessman.
Prosecutor
Tafadzwa
Zulu
told
the
court
that
Manyawu
was
entrusted
with
the
money
by
Assistant
Commissioner
Marume
for
safekeeping.
Added
Zulu:
However,
when
Assistant
Commissioner
Marume
asked
for
the
money
on
December
16,
2023,
Manyawu
failed
to
produce
it.An
investigation
was
launched,
and
it
was
discovered
that
Chiropa
had
taken
the
money
and
converted
it
to
his
own
use,
with
Manyawu’s
assistance.The
total
value
stolen
is
US$20
100
and
US$12
000
was
recovered.