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Court Reporter

TWO Harare City Council executives, Cainos Chingombe and Tendai Kwenda, who were taken to court on criminal abuse of office were yesterday freed after they successfully challenged their placement on remand.

Chingombe and Kwenda were alleged to have awarded themselves  allowances and retrenchment packages, which was against good corporate governance.

But through their lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku, the duo challenged their placement on remand saying the State’s allegations were incomplete.

Prof Madhuku argued that the State led by Mr Taddy Kamuriwo had a defective charge sheet.

“They also made an error when charging the accused with fraud. There is no reasonable suspicion made by the State on the charges,” he said.

In his response, Mr Kamuriwo told the court that Chingombe and Kwenda allegedly committed the offence as they acted outside the dictates of their duties.

Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, in her ruling, said the State failed to establish a nexus between Chingombe, Kwenda and fraud allegations, which she described as incomplete and meaningless.

Meanwhile, the trial of town clerk Hosiah Chisango, director of housing Addmore Nhekairo and Samuel Nyabeza on allegations of illegally parcelling out stands in Harare, has been set for January 20, 2021 at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.