dyton mupawaenda
Zvikomborero Parafini
HARARE Ward 29 councillor, Blessing Duma, was dragged to court yesterday after being fingered in an extortion storm.
Duma was remanded in custody to today for bail considerations.
He is also the chairperson of the City of Harare Audit Committee.
The committee’s functions include overseeing the performances and finance operations of the Office of the Director of Housing and Community Services Addmore Nhekairo.
The court heard that in June, two provisional allocation offer letters for two unserviced residential stands – 3868 and 3903 in Mabelreign Township for Welter Chigwereva and Danai Dzawanda – were sent to Nhekairo’s office.
Nhekairo saw that the letters did not bear the signature and stamp of the Principal Housing officer.
Nhekairo decided to withhold the letters pending an internal investigation pertaining to their origin.
It is the State’s case that on August 26, Duma approached Nhekairo asking why his office had not released the letters which were sent to him for signing.
It is alleged that he told Nhekairo it was important for him to fast-track the process by just appending his signature on the letters.
Nhekairo refused to sign the letters on the basis that they should have been referred to him procedurally.
The State alleged Duma went on to exert undue pressure on Nhekairo by threatening him that, as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, he would expose him and his department at the next scheduled meeting.
Duma is said to have further forwarded the names of Danai Dzawanda, Success Muyenga and Walter Chigwereva demanding that they be allocated stands if he did not want to be exposed.
On August 27, Duma approached Nhekairo, requesting the letters and, once again, his request was turned down.
Tambudzai Masamvi appeared for the State.
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