Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A housing developer at the centre of a multi-million-dollar residential stands scandal in Beitbridge has been granted US$400 bail and remanded to October 16.
Jonathan Gapare (64), in his capacity as Director of Alpha Housing Development (Private) Limited, appeared before the Beitbridge Resident Magistrate Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba this week facing two counts of theft and contempt of court.
He is jointly charged with his company, Alpha Housing Development (Pvt) Ltd, and has been remanded out of custody on US$400 bail pending trial, ordered to continue residing at his given home address, report once at the nearest police station every fortnight, and not to interfere with State witnesses.
The prosecutor Mr Willbrought Muleya alleged that on November 29, 2015, the Municipality of Beitbridge entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Alpha Housing Development after a council resolution 64BTC5.3 of 2015.
Under the agreement, the company was entrusted with virgin land in Dulivhadzimu Township to service 600 stands and to develop 500 low-cost houses to be sold as payment for developing the land.
The court further heard that the developer was also supposed to hand over 40 low-cost houses and 60 serviced stands for commonage to the local authority.
A layout plan, GE98 for Dulivhadzimu West with 1 132 stands, was prepared and approved by the Department of Spatial Planning in 2016.
It is further alleged that Gapare and his company went on to sell 632 residential stands measuring 300 square metres each, valued at US$4 740 000, over and above the 500 stands allocated as payment, and converted the proceeds to personal use.
The State also alleges that after the council demanded the outstanding 40 houses, 60 commonage stands and the excess stands, the accused failed to hand them over.
The Municipality later approached the Beitbridge Civil Court on September 21, 2023, under case number BTB CIV 95/23, which on 6 October 2023 permanently barred Alpha Housing from selling, developing or offering for sale stands under layout GE98 without council consent.
However, despite the order, Gapare and his company continued selling stands, disposing of 527 stands valued at US$3 990 000 in contempt of the court order.
As a result, the Municipality of Beitbridge suffered an actual prejudice of US$4,74 million, and nothing has been recovered.
Blessing Chizhande