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Nyore Madzianike
Senior Court Reporter
POLICE Deputy Commissioner General Human Resources Lorraine Chikato yesterday said the criminal offence Commissioner Erasmus Makodza is charged with, could have been solved administratively within the police force.

She told Harare regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa that she does not know whether Comm Makodza participated in the process that resulted in Maonei Chapfudza being allowed to farm on police land.

Deputy Commissioner Chikato said this when testifying in the matter in which Comm Makodza is alleged to have failed to declare his personal interests in the investment partnership between the police and his ex-lover Chapfudza.

Comm Makodza and Chapfudza once had a love affair and they have a child together. “As a senior officer he was supposed to declare his interest to the principal who is the Police Commissioner General. I was just told he has a child with that woman. It is not an offence, but an administrative issue that could be solved within the police,” she said.

Deputy Commissioner Chikato told the court that she had no complaints against Comm Makodza indicating that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission had pressed the charges.

Another State witness, Assistant Commissioner Steven Zengeya, who was responsible for provincial administration during the period Comm Makodza was the commander in Mash East province, also testified.

He told the court that he was part of the committee that offered Comm Makodza’s lover  the green light to farm on the land and was the person who signed the agreement between police and Comm Makodza’s ex-lover.

“It was my office’s prerogative to sign the document. He did not take part in the process and the partnership was done above board without coercion from anyone. She used the right route to get the farm and everyone including the legal department was involved in the process,” he said.

Assistant Comm Zengeya told the court that they were satisfied with the farming that was being undertaken by Comm Makodza’s ex-lover when they visited the farm for inspection during that period. Unfortunately the very day I made the recommendations, I was then transferred,” he said.

Assistant Comm Zengeya said Comm Makodza was not available when he signed the agreement.

Chief Superintendent Fungai Marange, who supervised the farm, said he also sat in the committee that approved the partnership. All the proceeds from the partnership went to the police and did not benefit Comm Makodza.

Comm Makodza is expected back in court on October 7 for trial continuation.