Zvimba RDC CEO Enias Chidhakwa Acquitted of Criminal Abuse Charges

Zvimba Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Enias Chidhakwa, has been acquitted of criminal abuse of office charges by Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.

Chidhakwa had faced allegations brought forward by the State, represented by prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, accusing him of violating council transport regulations for personal benefit.

The charges stemmed from claims that in September 2023, Chidhakwa used council vehicles and fuel to transport construction materials—gravel and river sand—to his private residence in Rainham.

The prosecution argued that he bypassed formal procedures required for hiring council resources, as outlined in the RDC’s transport policy, which mandates official approval and payment for such use.

It was further alleged that Chidhakwa authorised the release of approximately 1,000 litres of diesel—worth around US$1,500—for these activities, with 200 litres allocated per vehicle trip.

However, after reviewing the evidence, Magistrate Gofa ruled that the State had not established a strong enough case to support a conviction.

She concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Chidhakwa had acted unlawfully, leading to his acquittal.

Chidhakwa, who has held the CEO position at Zvimba RDC since 2020, had been released on US$200 bail at the start of the case.

His acquittal brings closure to a matter that had raised questions about internal governance and accountability within local government structures.

While the ruling clears him of legal wrongdoing, the case has reignited debate on the enforcement and transparency of council resource policies in rural districts.

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