EX-CHITUNGWIZA Municipality Housing and Community Services director Jemina Gumbo’s lawyer, yesterday accused the key State witness, Chitungwiza administration assistant Wadzanai Dube, of abusing her office, after it emerged she was one of the beneficiaries of the unprocedurally-allocated stands.
CHARLES LAITON
Evidence led so far suggests Dube was allocated one stand under the name WD Investments — a name derived from her initials.
As Gumbo’s lawyer Admire Rubaya continued cross-examining Dube, it emerged that some of the stands in question had lease agreements approved by fired Chitungwiza town clerk Godfrey Tanyanyiwa and Housing and Community Services deputy director Takesure Muronzi.
Rubaya, assisted by Everson Chatambudza, further accused Dube of acting in cahoots with Gumbo’s detractors to misrepresent and falsify information in a bid to remove her from office, an assertion she disputed.
Although Gumbo is alleged to have un-procedurally allocated commercial stands, exhibits produced in court indicated that 22 stands in question were not allocations but transfers which were not carried out by Gumbo, but by different individuals and organisations.
Gumbo is appearing before High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese charged with 22 counts of abuse of office, where she is alleged to have allocated commercial stands without following laid out council procedures.
In her defence, Gumbo denied ever abusing her official duty in the manner alleged by the State and said she never acted contrary to or showed any favour to any individuals or organisations.
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In her evidence in chief, Dube confirmed Gumbo never signed any of the stand allocation forms, but maintained she gave her the mandate to do so, an assertion Gumbo denied.
Gumbo told the court she would sign on her own all lawful documents relating to her office and in her absence, there would be a deputy to act on her behalf and sign all relevant lawful documents.
Apparently, of all the allocation forms produced as exhibits in court, Gumbo signed only two forms and the rest were signed by Dube.
As the trial continues today, prosecutor Public Mpofu, assisted by Innocent Chingarande, is expected to lead evidence from second State witness Conrad Muchesa.
