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NewsDay

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Mutare town clerk’s trial winds up

News
THE trial of former Rusape town secretary Joshua Maligwa, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges, continued yesterday at the Rusape Magistrates’ Court with the State calling the evidence of a last witness.

THE trial of former Rusape town secretary Joshua Maligwa, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges, continued yesterday at the Rusape Magistrates’ Court with the State calling the evidence of a last witness.

BY SHINGIRAI VAMBE

Maligwa, who is now Mutare town clerk and his co-accused Rusape’s former housing director, Laurence Mushayabasa, stand accused of engaging in shady land deals.

The complainant, Claude Mandeya, of Heartdeep Gases (Pvt) Ltd, told the court that he only got to know of the sale of the stands in dispute after reading an advertisement in the Press.

He responded by paying a deposit of $5 000 through a bank transfer to Rusape Town Council since the stand was said to be valued at $ 25 000.

During cross-examination by Mushayabasa’s lawyer Taurai Khupe, Mandeya said: “He (Mushayabasa) referred me to another office, where I was then issued with a receipt and that was the only time I met with the accused person.”

He denied meeting Maligwa and signing an agreement of sale with Rusape Town Council.

Mandeya admitted he visited the stand in question for viewing in April 2017.

The duo was further remanded to June 5, 2018 for judgment. Meanwhile, Maligwa was further remanded to the same date on a separate case relating to alleged criminal abuse of office.