Harare councillors’ stands scandal: More witnesses testify
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
The trial of seven Harare City councillors from the finance and development committee who allegedly connived to recommend that council employees get 20 percent of all stands created in Harare has resumed.
Costa Mande (40), Gilbert Thamsanga Hadebe (51), Maxwell Dutuma (29), Loveness Gomba (46), Happymore Gotora (47), Ian Muteto Makone (73) and Stanley Manasi Manyenga (40) are facing two counts of criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
They appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei.
Mr Tendai Tapi prosecuted.
Acting Chamber Secretary Mr Warren Chiwawa said that on June 17, 2022, he attended an executive management committee meeting chaired by Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo, the Acting Harare City Council Town Clerk.
During the meeting, one of the issues discussed was the issue of employees being considered for allocation of 20 percent of all Harare stands.
Subsequently, the finance department which is responsible for leasing and selling stands compiled proposed lease reports which were then signed by the acting finance director Mr Godfrey Kusangaya and Eng Moyo.
The reports were handed over to the finance development committee whose duties include making recommendations to the full council.
After the full council adopted the recommendations made by the finance and development committee, adverts from the finance department were flighted on December 15 and 22, 2022 in the Daily News, asking if there were any objections in terms of Section 152 of the Urban Council Act.
Only two objections were received for Glaudina (Gillingharm Group pay scheme) and Aspindale in respect of stand numbers 4088, 4089 and 4082 by one Kudzai.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer Mr Obey Chitowamombe, Mr Chiwawa said the memo written by Eng Moyo was specifically directed to the executive, not councillors.
Another witness, Mr Kusangaya, said he was part of the meeting on the day in question.
He said Eng Moyo’s memo stated that residential and commercial stands were to be identified for the executive so that their conditions of service could be met.
Another witness, the director of Urban Local Authorities, Mrs Nyarai Mudzinge told the court that councillors can be allocated one residential and stand in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
“I cannot comment about commercial stands, l am focusing on residential stands. I did not bring the circular on commercial stands,” she said.
During the last court sitting, Eng Moyo testified. He said the memo he had sent to the finance director was directing him to look for stands for the executive.
He said that memo did not apply to councillors.
Trial resumes on September 23.
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