Ex-Harare mayor’s application dismissed

Mathew Masinge

FORMER Harare mayor, Herbert Gomba, had his application for review of a magistrate’s decision, to deny exception to criminal abuse of office charges, dismissed by the High Court.

Gomba is being charged together with Samuel Nyabeze, who was Acting Town Planner, and Munyaradzi Bowa, who was chief surveyor, at the time.

The three are facing allegations of awarding another land user an already approved plan, belonging to Youths in Business Housing Trust.

Gomba is the only one objecting to the charge, claiming there was no way the trio, holding different public offices, could have committed the same alleged offence.

However, Justice Benjamin Chikowero, dismissed the plea, saying the trio acted in common purpose.

“The duties of the three public officers may be different, this is not important.”