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Prosper Dembedza–Herald Correspondent
THE trial of former Harare mayor Herbert Gomba, town planner Samuel Nyabeze and municipal surveyor Munyaradzi Bowa, on allegations of conniving to alter an approved layout plan belonging to Youths in Business Housing Trust and giving it to another user, failed to continue yesterday following indications that the presiding magistrate was not feeling well.
This prompted Harare magistrate Mr Taurai Manuwere to defer proceedings to May 31.
The State alleges that the three converted State land into council land and allocated it to Taringana Housing Scheme with the same plan number that was allocated to Youths in Business Trust.
It is alleged that Gomba, in his capacity as the ceremonial mayor, wrote a memorandum on February 18, 2020, saying the plan for Taringana Housing Scheme had been approved and Council should proceed to survey the land.
This, says the State, was misleading and inaccurate since the same plan had been issued and approved by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to Youths in Business Housing Scheme.
Plans to proceed with the change had also been set aside by the town clerk, but Gomba disregarded such advice and acted beyond his powers as a ceremonial mayor.
The Environmental Management Agency inspected the land and noted that 40 percent of it was wetland and recommended that part be left out of the planned development.
But it is alleged that the two officials went on to demarcate the wetland into 530 housing stands, disregarding the recommendation.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter