MAKONDE district lands officer James Gavanga, who was arrested last week, appeared at the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with criminal abuse of office.

NUNURAI JENA OWN CORRESPONDENT

It is the State case that Gavanga received a beast for facilitating an offer letter for Benjamin Chirenje a farmer at Platue Farm in Mhangura. Chirenje alleges that he was allocated an A1 plot in 2005, but was denied an offer letter until he recently paid a beast to Gavanga to obtain the document.

Chirenje then reported Gavanga to the police in Mhangura after Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora announced that no one should pay anything to get land. Gavanga denied the charge and was remanded to June 18 on $100 bail.