Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
THREE men from Harare appeared in court yesterday facing criminal trespass charges after allegedly occupying a residential stand in Crowborough Extension and carrying out developments without the required planning approvals.
Alibson Jonga (55), Edson Muhala (57) and Ephehrt Meso (42) appeared before the court following their arrest on July 6.
The State alleges that the real owner of the stand joined Harare City Council’s housing waiting list in 2011 and, after attending an interview in 2016, was provisionally allocated Stand 3924 in Crowborough .
It is alleged that the owner subsequently paid the required administration fee and provisional deposit before undertaking servicing works on the property, including sewer and water connections, together with other beneficiaries.
Prosecutors allege that between 2019 and the date of their arrest, the trio, acting in common purpose with three other suspects who are still at large, unlawfully occupied the stand and formed a housing cooperative known as Vatema Votonga.
According to the State, Jonga is the chairperson of the cooperative, Muhala is its secretary, while Meso serves on its supervisory committee.
The court heard that the trio allegedly allocated the stand to another individual, who went on to erect three structures and a perimeter fence on the property.
It is further alleged that the actual owner made several unsuccessful attempts to take possession of the stand before reporting the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the three accused.
