PASTOR, WIFE, SELL STATE LAND FOR US$20K

Zvikomborero Parafini

A PASTOR based in Marondera and his wife have been ordered to perform 280 hours of community service after they were found guilty of selling State land.

Webster Salowa-Kasava, and his wife Happyness, of Church of Christ Marondera, pleaded guilty to the charge of selling, disposing of State land without written authorisation or consent from the authorities.

Magistrate Ruth Moyo sentenced them to 14 months imprisonment.

Six months were suspended on condition that they don’t commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Eight months were suspended on condition they perform 280 hours each of community service.

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, represented by Clifford Mukoyi, who is the Provincial Lands Officer for Mashonaland East, were the complainants.

The court heard that on July 19, last year, the Ministry allocated agricultural land to Salowa-Kasava.

The land is subdivision 21 of Brantingham Estate in Marondera District measuring 21.88 hectares.

Salowa-Kasava was the registered settler of the subdivision.

However, instead of using the land for agricultural activities, Salowa-Kasava put the land up for sale.

He approached his neighbouring farmer, Sarah Hwingwiri, informing her about his intention to sell the land for US$20 000.

Hwingwiri was also looking for agricultural land for her daughter Tatenda Naume Butawu.

Hwingwiri said she would be interested if it was a plot next to her farm, which is plot number 15 subdivision of Brantingham Estate, in Marondera District.

Salowa-Kasava approached Gilbert Kusangaya for a swap of plots because he wanted one that was next to Hwingwiri’s plot. Kusangaya agreed to the deal.

On August 9 last year, Salowa-Kasava and his wife, Butawu, Kusangaya and Hwingwiri met at 7 Beit Road in Milton Park and Butawu paid US$10 000.

She promised to pay the balance of US$10 000 in October last year.Salowa-Kasava and his wife both signed an acknowledgement of receipt.

The money he was paid was not due to him as this was State land.