FORMER Mutare town clerk Obert Muzawazi appeared at the Mutare Magistrates’ Court yesterday facing charges of criminal abuse of office after he was arrested on allegations of fraudulently selling residential stands.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI
Muzawazi, who was not asked to plead, was granted $400 bail by magistrate Sekai Chiundura coupled with several conditions, including surrendering his passport, reporting to the police once every two weeks and continuing to reside at his given address.
It is the State’s case that on April 16, 2014 at the City of Mutare department of housing and community services, Muzawazi offered residential stand number 26357 Dangamvura to Faith Nyarai Matabhini.
The complainant paid $1 000 towards the stand, leaving a balance of $3 050 and was issued with an offer letter on the same day.
According to the State papers, on September 18, 2015, the accused issued stand 26357 Dangamvura to Prince Bumhira and gave him an offer letter to purchase it.
The State argues that Muzawazi unprocedurally repossessed complainant’s stand and offered her stand number 26364 or 26366 knowing that the land had already been issued to other beneficiaries.
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It is also alleged that from August 19 to October 5, the accused reportedly unprocedurally sold stands number 11940, 11890, 119982, 11889 and 11891 to different home-seekers.
The accused was supposed to flight advertisements of the residential stands in the local Press before selling them as stipulated in section 152 (1)(2) a of the Urban Councils Act.
The State said Muzawazi abused his authority as head of Mutare City Council and sold the stands without following procedure.
Muzawazi was represented by David Tandiri of Tandiri Law Chambers.
