Chitungwiza town clerk Godfrey Tanyanyiwa yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing 11 counts of corruption and fraud, including swindling the local authority of $718 753 through shady transactions.
Tanyanyiwa, who has been in custody since his arrest last Thursday, is also being accused of renting his personal property in Chisipite, Harare, to Chitungwiza Municipality director of urban planning Conrad Muchesa, for which council paid him $1 300 rentals per month for five months.
He was not asked to plead to the seven counts of fraud, three counts of criminal abuse of office and one count of corruptly concealing a personal interest in a transaction from a principal when he appeared before Harare magistrate Anita Tshuma.
The senior council official – represented by four lawyers – was remanded in custody to today for continuation of his bail application.
The Anti-Corruption Commission senior investigating officer, Servious Kufandada, opposed bail arguing at the time of his arrest Tanyanyiwa had restructured council security and recruited armed personal bodyguards who were feared to be a threat to State witnesses.
Kufandada also said Tanyanyiwa was likely to commit further offences since at the time of his arrest he had allegedly tampered with council documents that implicated him.
The State further argued Tanyanyiwa’s release would compromise his safety as Chitungwiza residents were reportedly baying for his blood as reflected in the minutes of a meeting held on September 7, 2010.
Allegations against Tanyanyiwa are that sometime in September 2010 he devised a plan to defraud council and bought himself a house through Floburg Real Estate.
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It is alleged Tanyanyiwa knew he had no funds, but misrepresented to Kingdom Bank’s Graniteside branch that Chitungwiza Municipality had authorised the transfer of $80 000 from the council account to Floburg Real Estate’s First Banking Corporation account.
On other dates unknown to the State, Tanyanyiwa allegedly collected $85 000 from council coffers through an unnamed employee from Floburg Real Estate which he later converted to his own use.
The State also alleges Tanyanyiwa corruptly acquired three commercial stands in his capacity as district administrator on May 2, 2007.
On yet another occasion, on a date unknown to the State, but in April last year, Tanyanyiwa allegedly corruptly diverted $170 000 meant for purchasing three vehicles.
He also allegedly authorised cash payment for himself and senior council management.
