HCC former finance director jailed 10 years for di...

HCC former finance director jailed 10 years for dishing out land illegally

Zim Now Writer

Harare city council former finance director has been jailed 10 years for ilegally parceling land that was leased to the Old Hararians Sports Club.

Ndemera, and his accomplice, Emmanuel Mutambirwa who was the estate manager, will each serve 10 years in jail for illegally selling the commercial stands.

Posting on its X handle ZACC said: “ZACC arrested the duo after it emerged that they connived to parcel out commercial stands on land leased to Old Hararians Sports Club.”

Prosecutors, Whisper Mabhaudi and Lovack Masuku had said between September 2018 and August 2020, the two acted in cahoots to facilitate the sale of the stands.

The accused persons facilitated the unlawful sale of three commercial stands to Optel Enterprises Private Limited, Silverharbour Enterprises Private Limited and Leanforth Investments Private Limited.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the two violated several procedures and regulations, including selling land under an existing lease agreement with Old Hararians Sports Club and failing to follow the council resolution of 2005 requiring tender processes for land sales.

"They failed to obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and institute change of reservation procedures.

“They did not fully comply with the provisions of Section 152 of the Urban Councils Act in that they were supposed to advertise the land in two publications notifying the public of their intention to sell, instead they only published a single notification,” the NPA said.

High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero presided over the matter.