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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of three former Mutare City Council executives this afternoon.
Former Mutare Acting Chief Town Planner, Richard Simbi, former Director of Works (City Engineer), Donaldson Nyatoti and former Town Clerk, Obert Muzawazi, were arrested on criminal abuse of office charges.
The three are being accused of unlawfully creating and selling eight stands without any council resolution authorising the creation of the stands.
In a statement released by ZACC this afternoon, the three are expected to appear in court soon.
Reads the statement: “During the period extending from February 2005 to July 2014, the accused persons unlawfully and unprocedurally created and sold eight stands from the remainder of 2485 Umtali Township.
Investigations revealed that there was no council resolution authorising the creation of those stands.
“Two stands were allocated to Richard Simbi and there is no proof that he paid the purchase price for the stands. When allocating those stands, Muzawazi cited several council resolutions which do not exist purporting as if the council had authorised the sale of those stands. Knowing well that the local layout plan had not been approved, the accused persons acting in connivance rushed with the unapproved layout plan and disposed residential stands to individuals measuring 20 967 square meters with an estimated value of U$482 241.00 without any approval from the Department of Physical Planning and Minister responsible.
“The accused did not follow proper procedures as required by their responsibilities before parcelling out land thereby the accused persons unlawfully and intentionally did that which was contrary to or inconsistent with their duties as a public officers by showing favour to few selected officers at the expense of Council’s good administration and the public at large.”
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