Online ReporterProsper Dembedza-Herald Correspondent
Suspected Eastwind land barons Rodgers Pote and Trymore Arineshito who are facing charges of contempt of court after they carried out development without approval on an illegal settlement have applied for discharge at the close of State’s case.
Harare magistrate Mr Tapiwa Banda is expected to deliver ruling on the application on September 19.
Testifying before Mr Banda during trial, Harare City Council’s housing director Mr Addmore Nhekairo said he was unaware of any offer letter that was issued to Eastwind with regards to any land in Mabvuku/Donnybrook.
He told the court that Pote and Arineshito were never allocated any piece of land in Mabvuku or Donnybrook.
Responding to a question from the State regarding his comment, if Pote and Arineshito had told the court that they had permission to occupy that land, Mr. Nhekairo said he would dispute that because they had not been recommended by the regularisation task force created by council.
During cross-examination, the defence lawyer handed over several documents to Mr Nhekairo, which she said were obtained from council and gave permission to her clients to occupy the land.
However, Mr Nhekairo disowned all the documents, saying they were fake.
READ ALSO: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/harare-city-hous…wind-land-barons/
Mr Nhekairo said there are numerous complaints about fake documents that are in circulation.
He said he does not know Eastwind, and no offer letter was given to them in connection with any land.
During previous court sittings, former Mt Pleasant MP Mr Jason Pasade told the court that Pote and Arineshito hired thugs who unleashed violence before grabbing the land where his company had developed and allocated stands.
“These guys are land barons and violence (is) in their DNA, they always use violence by hiring thugs to grab land,” he said.
It is the State’s case that Mr Pasade and his company entered into an agreement to develop land on behalf of the Freedom Fighters Development Trust.
Mr Pasade said his company started building roads and infrastructure development was at an advanced stage.
However, the two accused persons started illegally selling and allocating stands in the area.
Mr Pasade’s company got a High Court order to remove the illegally settled people but Pote and Arineshito did not vacate.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri said the High Court issued the provisional order against Eastwind Trust in November 2023.
The complainant is Homegram Investments Limited, represented by Mr Pasade.
