admin
Herald Reporter
City of Harare town planner, Mrs Priscilla Charumbira, was yesterday acquitted of charges that she illegally approved the change of land use from recreational to commercial purpose without the approval of Minister of Local Government between 2016 and 2017.
Mrs Charumbira walked away a free lady after a full trial when Harare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje said there was no evidence to incriminate her.
Throughout the trial, Mrs Charumbira pleaded not guilty.
Mr Mambanje said the State failed to prove that between May 2016 and November 2017, Mrs Charumbira, failed to follow procedure and misrepresented facts to induce council to dispose the property to Tulabelle and Atticus Investments to the prejudice of the good administration of the Harare City Council.
The State had alleged that in September 2016, well knowing that the land in question was reserved solely for recreational purposes, Mrs Charumbira retrospectively created a proposed subdivision site plan TPF/CR/19/16 measuring 3 hectares to suit the advert.
The State had further alleged that Mrs Charumbira, through her letter on 17 November 2017 to the finance director, approved the proposed subdivision of Remainder of Salisbury Township on stand 40600, Sunningdale, Harare leading to the sale of the property.
The stand number 40600 was sold to Tulabelle and Atticus Investment at a total price of US$450 000.
Online Reporter