Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika
TWO Hwange Local Board executives who were last week arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on charges of corruption have been granted bail by a Hwange magistrate.
Hwange Local Board town secretary Ndumiso Mdlalose and housing director Ananias Banda were arrested after they allegedly sold an industrial stand worth nearly US$2 million for US$20 000 to a local processing company.
Mdlalose (54) and Banda (51) appeared in court on Tuesday when they applied for bail which was granted on Wednesday.
Hwange magistrate Miss Lindiwe Maphosa released the duo on $200 000 each and adjourned the case to June 16.
In granting them bail, the magistrate ordered the pair to reside at their given addresses, report to the police every Monday until the case is cleared, surrender all travel documents, not to interfere with witnesses and not to report for duty until the case is concluded.
Allegations against the two, who were presented by Miss Memory Munsaka, are that they connived and sold a 6-hectare industrial stand to Paarlweb Investments Pvt Ltd for US$20 000 against a council resolution of selling the stand for US$1 983 600.
Paarlweb, through its directors, wanted the piece of land to establish a coke oven battery.
The company had initially applied for 20 hectares in May last year.
Council deliberated on the application on July 8, 2022 and resolved to place the issue on hold pending investigations by the Health, Housing and Community Services committees which wanted to see the company’s environmental impact assessment report.
A meeting was then held, where it was resolved to accept the application and to sell the stand at the prevailing cost.
The State accused Mdlalose of generating a letter dated August 22 confirming that Paarlweb had purchased the stand and had met all council requirements.
It was stated that on August 29 Mdlalose allegedly wrote to Paarlweb, which he also copied to Banda, advising them that the Local Board had proposed that they make an initial deposit of US$20 000 and the outstanding amount was to be in the form of council projects for a period of five years.
On September 14, Banda instructed the accounts clerk to generate an invoice for payment. Paarlweb then went on to pay US$24 045 on 21 September. In connivance, Mdlalose and Banda reportedly made their communication through WhatsApp. A report was made to Zacc by some residents and concerned stakeholders resulting in the anti-corruption body investigating the matter leading to their arrest.
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