COH principal estates officer Mutero remanded on a...

COH principal estates officer Mutero remanded on abuse off office

Michael Mashiri

A Harare City Council boss was arraigned to court for criminal abuse of office after conniving to sell a stand for US$1 606 550 without the Council's resolution.

Monica Mutero, 50, of Mew Marimba Park was before magistrate Stanford Mambanje at the Harare Magistrates' Court charged with Criminal Abuse of Duty as Public Officers, contravening Section 174 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9.23.

https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/3027/harare-principal-estate-officer-monica-mutero-faces-criminal-abuse-of-office-rap

Mutero is employed in the City of Harare as the Principal Estates Officer with duties of lease management, valuation, estate management and disposal of Council land while in compliance with City of Harare Standard Operations Procedures, Valuers Act and the Urban Council's Act (Chapter 29:15).

The state through Andrew Madekuchekwa alleges that, in 2013, City of Harare allocated on lease commercial stand number 5420 Budiriro Township, Harare which had been reserved for a Council Primary School to a company called Southern Cross whose directors are Effort and Necca Zaranyika.

In 2016 the company's lease agreement was terminated after they had failed to adhere to the terms of the lease by failing to pay the monthly rentals over a prolonged period of time.

On June 1, 2016, Mutero, unilaterally and without a Council resolution worked together with Tendai Kwenda, offered the stand in issue for sale to the company for US$1 606 550, despite the fact that its lease had been cancelled for non-adherence with the lease terms.

Mutero in furtherance of their unlawful act which was contrary to her duties as a public officer and without the knowledge of Council gave an instruction to one Mashonganyika of Revenues Division to open a Sundry Account on June 28, 2016.

This was done in order to facilitate the payment of intrinsic value or purchase price of the land upon sale by Council, however Mutero did that without Council resolution.

Mutero's actions were in conflict with City of Harare Standard Operating Procedure which provides that sale of commercial stand requires a council resolution.

It is alleged that, she did this to show undue favour to Southern Cross.

Mambanje gave Mutero ZWL$100 000 bail. She was ordered to continue residing at the given address, not to interfere with state witnesses and to report once every Friday to the nearest police station.

She will appear in court on March 22, 2023 for routine remand.