Former Chiredzi housing director gets Community Service for abuse of office

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

Former Chiredzi Housing Director, Emily Paradzai, has been ordered to complete 280 hours of community service in Harare after being convicted of criminal abuse of office as a public officer for illegally allocating a residential stand belonging to another council employee as part of his gratuity package.

The accused was found guilty and sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment by Chiredzi Regional Magistrate, Mrs Judith Zvuyu.

Twelve months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence within five years, and a further four months were suspended on the condition of good behaviour.

The remaining eight months were suspended on the condition that the accused performs 280 hours of community service at Cold Comfort School in Harare, where she is now residing.

In addition to legal action, in November last year, the accused also appeared before the Chiredzi Council disciplinary hearing committee, where she was suspended. The committee recommended to the Local Government Board that she be discharged from duty.

Paradzai was taken to court by Lazarus Dhuku for illegally allocating his gratuity stand to another person.

Dhuku had been allocated stand 1057 in Melbourne Park in 2018 under resolution 41/2c (ii) 2018, as passed by the Council, as a gratuity for having served the council for 30 years.

However, the accused later allocated the stand to another person, forcing Dhuku to approach the High Court, which has since ordered the council to offer him another stand within seven days.