By Staff Reporter
Harare – A warrant for the arrest of former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono, has been issued after he failed to appear in the Harare Magistrates Court on Monday.
His representative George Mashonganyika, has received the warrant on his behalf.
Gono is involved in a fraud case against Beverly Aisha Makoni and Clark Makoni, who allegedly changed the directorship of Valley Lodge without his consent.
The couple is also accused of making unauthorized withdrawals from Gono’s company bank account in 2017, which reportedly resulted in significant financial losses.
Clark Makoni faces additional allegations of unauthorized withdrawals from Valley Lodge’s account, amounting to ZWL137 million between January 2022 and September 2023.
The case, which dates back to 2017, was expected to advance this week, but Gono’s absence prompted the issuance of the warrant.
Delays in proceedings were attributed to an incomplete docket, which the State has been awaiting since last year, according to prosecutor Sithembiso Moyo.
The Makonis are currently appearing in court, accused of fraudulently claiming ownership of Valley Lodge.
In their defense, they argue that Gono is targeting them with baseless allegations, facilitated by individuals with political connections.
“The accused person further 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 their statement.
