Zimpapers Logo

Prosper Dembedza Court Correspondent

Harare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje has set September 23 as the trial date for former Harare mayor Herbert Gomba, valuations and estates manager Emamnual Mutambirwa and estates officer in the Valuations and Estates Division Daniel Usingarahwe on allegations of parcelling out stands on land reserved for recreational purposes.

The court heard that between 2018 and 2020, Gomba, who was the councillor for Glen Norah and Harare mayor connived with Mutambirwa to cause the creation of Old Hararians Sports Club open space.

The stands were for a proposed crèche, medical centre, market place, active recreational space and a filling station.

It is alleged that during the plan subdivision by City of Harare Planning Division, Gomba put pressure on Samuel Nyabeze, through verbal communication, to expedite the process to enable the creation and sale of the stands.

Gomba expressed interest in the stand for the fuel service station to Nyabeze, claiming that he risked losing the opportunity if a commission to run Harare City Council affairs was installed before he secured the commercial stand, the court heard.

Gomba, Mutambirwa and Usingarahwe disregarded the special conditions on the approved proposed subdivision plan and sold the stands to three beneficiaries for $5 213 781.