Court acquits Chitungwiza councillors Warikandwa, ...

Court acquits Chitungwiza councillors Warikandwa, Chiwanza

Philemon Jambaya

Chitungwiza magistrate, Isheanesu Matova on Monday acquitted the duo of Steny Warikandwa and Tonderai Chiwanza.

The two are Citizens Coalition for Change councillors in Chitungwiza, who were facing charges of criminal abuse of office.

They were arrested in 2020 after a report that they had abused their office in facilitating the allocation of a residential stand to one Blessing Sasha Moyo without following due process.

The duo was represented by Chitungwiza-based lawyer, Freddy Masarirevu and they were denying the allegations, labeling them political.

Masarirevu argued that the CCC councillors have nothing to do with stands allocation in Chitungwiza, but instead their responsibility is limited to policy formulation and participating in full council meetings.

In his lengthy ruling, the Magistrate noted that the evidence led by the State witnesses did not point to any involvement by the two CCC councillors in the allocation of stands.

Two of the officials, who testified on behalf of the local authority exonerated the two councillors.

The court ruled that there was no incriminating evidence against the two and the State had failed to prove a case warranting them to be put to their defence.

However, their co-accused, Alex Mukwewa, who was an employee of Chitungwiza Municipality, was not so lucky.

The court ruled that he had a case to answer and his application for discharge was dismissed.

The court ruled that the State had managed to prove a case against him. Mukwewa was represented by Tafadzwa Chikanga while the State was represented by Bart Malunga.