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Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
THE trial date for a Makonde district lands officer James Gavanga, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges, has been set for July 3. Gavanga allegedly demanded a bull from a desperate land seeker Benjamin Chirenje. It is alleged he only allocated Chirenje a plot after he was given the beast.

Gavanga appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze on Thursday and was remanded to July 3 for trial.
He is out of custody on US$100 bail.

Gavanga (47) is also accused of contravening Section 147 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutor Mr Trustmore Mukarati is alleging that sometime in 2012, Gavanga demanded a reward before processing an offer letter for Chirenje. Chirenje had applied for land at the lands office sometime in 2006.

On receiving the application, Gavanga allegedly demanded a reward to process the application and Chirenje promised him a beast.
Gavanga then allocated Chirenje a plot at Plateau Farm in Mhangura after receiving the bull. The bull was cleared at Mhangura Police Station under ZRP Livestock Clearance Certificate Form 392, number 0836654 and Clearance Register 1480/12.

The matter came to light when on May 29, 2014, a National Lands Inspectorate team gathered information that Gavanga had demanded and received a beast to process an offer letter for Chirenje leading to his arrest.