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Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
Zvimba Rural District Council chief executive officer Enias Chidakwa has appeared in court on allegations of using council fuel, drivers, vehicles and equipment to carry gravel and river sand to his house construction site.
Chidakwa was facing criminal abuse of duty when he appeared before Harare magistrate, Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
He was released on US$200 bail.
As part as his bail conditions, Chidakwa was ordered to report every Friday at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission offices.
He was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at his given address.
According to the Zvimba RDC’s Transport Policy, when council employees and Councillors intend to use the local authority’s vehicles and equipment for personal use, they are expected to hire them at rates determined by the council.
The court heard that in such instances, a request for personal use is completed and approved, while the employee or councillor is expected to use their own fuel.
It is the State’s case that from September 1 to 30, 2024, Chidakwa began building his house in Rainham.
Chidhakwa would unlawfully instruct council drivers to use council vehicles to carry gravel and river sand to the construction site without having hired the vehicles as stated in the local authority’s transport policy.
He would also instruct council officials to release 200 litres of diesel for each of the trucks he was using for the job, contrary to the council’s Transport Policy.
To date, Chidakwa has dispatched 1000 litres of diesel, valued at USD 1 500, for the use of the Zvimba RDC vehicles and equipment.
No hiring fee has been paid to date.
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