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Mathew Masinge
A FORMER valuer and estates manager for Harare City Council has been charged with criminal abuse of office for allegedly approving the sale of a 23.9684-hectare wetland in Borrowdale West to a Chinese-owned company.
He didn’t seek Council approval for the transaction and the land was valued at US$91 000.
The incident is said to have taken place during Emmanuel Mutambirwa’s tenure from 2017 to 2019.
Mutambirwa allegedly recommended to the then Council acting finance director, Stanley Ndemera, the sale of core of the wetland to Vifot Investments (Pvt) Ltd, and instructed subordinates to proceed with the sale without advertising it to enable stakeholder and public objections.
The land was valued at $91 679 130 then.
The prosecution said Mutambirwa was approached by Vifot Investments (Pvt) Ltd on May 18, 2019, for purchase of land for recreational purposes.
After receiving the application, Mutambirwa recommended to Ndemera, who is still at large, the sale of the core of the wetland.
Ndemera instructed Mutambirwa to proceed with the process of selling the stand to the Chinese firm, without a council resolution.
It was Mutambirwa’s duty to ensure that the intended sale was advertised to enable stakeholders, and other interested parties to raise objections, but he deliberately decided not to do that.
The State said the then mayor, Stewart Mutizwa, also directly engaged with some officials instructing them to expeditiously process the land deal without adhering to the requirements in the Urban Councils Act.
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge