State withdraws fraud case against couple accused of fleecing ex-RBZ governor Gono

THE State has withdrawn charges against a couple accused of illegally changing ownership of Valley Lodge, which former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono claims ownership.

Charges against Beverly Aisha Ndonda Makoni and husband, Clark Clever Makoni, were dismissed by Harare Magistrate Sharon Rakafa, who cited the matter’s repeated presentation before the court.

Prosecutor Sithembiso Moyo had told the court that there was no evidence to proceed with the case and that the prosecution could not substantiate any of the claims levelled against the pair.

Allegations are currently under trial in a different court, a situation which led Rakafa to note that a person could not be charged twice for same offence.

The couple was taken to court by Gono, whom they accused of trying to take advantage of his political clout to take possession of Valley Lodge.

“The accused person asserts that these are clearly malicious, frivolous and vexatious allegations being peddled by the complainant in connivance with those who occupy certain positions of influence within the law enforcement agencies or other government linked institutions who maliciously caused their arrest without any shred of evidence to justify their arrest and/or prosecution,” reads a statement by the Makonis

A warrant of arrest was issued last month for Gono, after he failed to attend court.