happiness ChikwanhaZvikomborero Parafini
HARARE City Council acting valuations and estates manager, Peter Dube, appeared in court yesterday on criminal abuse of duty charges.
Dube appeared before regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje.
The court heard that in 2013, the City of Harare leased out a commercial stand which had been reserved for a Council primary school in Budiriro to Southern Cross (Pvt) Ltd.
Southern Cross’ directors are Effort and Necca Zaranyika.
The State said Southern Cross’ lease agreement was terminated in 2016, after it failed to pay monthly rentals, for a prolonged period.
On June 1, 2016, Council’s finance director, Tendai Kwenda, put the stand up for sale for US$1 606 550, without a Council resolution.
Despite the existence of a clause on the offer letter that the company was supposed to pay within a stipulated time frame, no payment was made and no action was taken.
The company remained in occupation of the stand without paying any rentals.
On November 29, 2021, Dube sought to resuscitate Southern Cross’ lease and sought resumption of the stand’s billing by writing to the head of revenue who turned down the request.
On December 14 last year, Dube attempted to legitimise his actions by making representations to the Finance and Development Committee that he had decided to resuscitate the lease because Southern Cross had already constructed some buildings, but this was turned down by council.
According to the State, Dube’s actions were in conflict with City of Harare’s standard operating procedure which stipulates that a terminated lease can only be revived through a Council resolution.
His actions were, therefore, viewed as intended to favour Southern Cross.
Online Reporter