5 Harare councillors up for abuse of office

Zim Now Writer

Five Harare councillors yesterday appeared before magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro for criminal abuse of office.

Costa Mande, 40, Gilbert Thamsanga Hadebe, 51, lan Muteto Makone, 73, Loveness Gomba, 46, and Stanley Manasi Manyenga, 40, illegally allocated commercial and residential stands to members of the committee and senior council officials.

They were all granted ZWL$100 000 bail.

The five recommended the illegal allocation of 29 commercial and or industrial stands in various locations to a total of 14 councillors and 14 senior council officials and one Member of Parliament.

On November 29, 2022, an ordinary council meeting adopted the recommendations by the committee chaired by Mande to allocate the commercial and industrial stands.

It is alleged that the accused persons executed their plan in two meetings held on November 14, 2022 and December 14, 2022.

The councillors are said to be purposely absent from meetings in which the issue of the allocation of stands to themselves was being discussed.

It is alleged that in terms of Ministry of Local Government circular 12 (cross referenced CX/7) dated March 18, 2020, a councillor who does not have a residence within his or her ward is entitled to a single residential stand.