From South Africa, CEOAFRICA.com gathered that South Africa-based businessman Mutumwa Mawere is currently facing charges of alleged fraud.

Mawere, who holds both South African and Zimbabwean citizenship, was said to have defrauded the national lottery nearly R5 million.

Sources said the alleged fraudster was apprehended in Johannesburg, South Africa last week. He was said to have used his African Heritage Society organization to fraudulently secure grants worth R4.5 million from the National Lottery Distribution Fund, predominantly used to fund charities.

Mawere, as further gathered, is currently being investigated in South Africa by the crime fighting unit, The Hawks.

Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said Mawere applied for the grant under the pretence that his organization would build a “corporate heritage museum” in Rivonia, Johannesburg, to promote South African heritage. He was alleged to have lied to the lotteries board about how the money was spent.

Ramaloko said, “He claimed that a two-day workshop was held at a luxury hotel in Sandton, but it was later revealed that it had in fact hosted the launch of his book titled Conversions with Mawere.”

According to the lotteries board chief executive Charlotte Mampane, her organization was aware of the investigation, but had not been formally informed about his arrest.

However, Mawere’s lawyer, Rod Montano, said preparations were being made for his hearing on Wednesday.

Mawere, who has worked for World Bank, was self-exiled from Zimbabwe in 2004 following legal troubles at Shabanie Mine where he was accused of defrauding the government of Z$300 billion.