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Midlands Bureau Chief
THE State has closed its case in the trial of former Minister of State for Midlands, Jason Machaya, who is facing allegations of abuse of office after allegedly annexing commonage stands.
Machaya appeared before Gweru provincial magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa facing allegations of annexing 336 residential stands in Gokwe.
Machaya, who is on $1 000 bail, is pleading not guilty, arguing that he acted in delegated and relegated authority in his capacity as Midlands Minister of State.
He was remanded to August 21 when he is to be put to his defence.
Machaya is arguing that as the then Minister of State, he was entitled to 10 percent of stands developed on State land, which is in line with the Commonage Law and the “annexation” of the stands in question was within the parameters of law.
The State’s case was that the accused who was employed as the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for (Midlands Province) by the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, thus being a public officer, did and inconsistent with his duties on the said dates intentionally allocated State land totalling 17 799 stands to land developers.
Mr Clemence Chimbari appeared for the State.
Online Reporter