A Harare man accused of defrauding the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has been remanded in custody until 9 January 2026.
Blessing Benhura (30) appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court last week, facing fraud charges.
Prosecutors say that in May 2025, Benhura allegedly worked with several accomplices who are still on the run to swindle ARDA by falsely presenting 14 people as legitimate farmers.
He is accused of submitting forged joint venture agreements, fake recommendation letters from Agricultural Research Extension Services (AREX), and bogus offer letters supposedly issued by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to secure agricultural inputs.
Using the fake paperwork, Benhura allegedly collected 124 tonnes of fertiliser and 15 tonnes of wheat seed, claiming the inputs were meant for delivery to farmers in Banket.
Instead, the inputs — valued at about US$296,546 — were reportedly sold to various buyers in Harare, with the proceeds shared among the suspects.
The scam came to light after ARDA officials carried out a field inspection and discovered that the listed farmers did not exist and no wheat had been planted.
Benhura was arrested on 15 December 2025. The State opposed bail, and he remains in custody pending his next court appearance in January.
