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Talent Gore
THE trial of Harare City Council head of town planning, Priscilla Charumbira, who is facing allegations of changing land use for open spaces and wetlands without following laid-down procedures, got underway yesterday.
The State led with its first witness, Wadzanai Vutuza, who is the City of Harare Central Region principal town planner and acting chief planner strategic and forward planning.
Stanford Mambanje is the Regional Magistrate on the case while Ephraim Zinyandu is appearing for the state.
Vutuza took her time explaining how the process of changing recreational land to commercial land works.
Charumbira’s lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, there was never a point in which Charumbira was involved in the advertising of the land for sale.
“When the accused signed one of the relevant documents, she was the Acting Director of Works, and her signing was perfectly in accordance with the modus operandi of that office, namely that the director acts on the strength of approval by the City Planner,” he said.
“She did not create the proposed subdivision on Stand Number 40600, she could not have created it single-handedly as that is impossible under the systems operating in the City of Harare.
“It was not part of her specific duties to seek the approval of the Minister under Section 49(3 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chap 29:12) as this was the responsibility of the Council itself.”
The case was deferred to tomorrow for cross examination.
The charges arise over three hectares of land at the corner of Boshoff Drive and Seke Road and zoned for recreational purposes.
It is the State’s case that some time in 2016, Charumbira, in her capacity as the town planner and knowing laws regarding change of reservation of property in question, acted contrary to her duties.
The State alleges the land use was changed from recreational to commercial without the approval of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development.
Charumbira, through a letter dated November 17, 2017, to the Finance Director, approved the proposed subdivision of the remainder of stand 40600, Sunningdale, leading to the sale of the property.
The City of HaraRe, through its full Council, acted upon the misrepresentation and sold the land to Tulabelle and Atticus Investment for US$450 000.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter