ZACC arrests three former Mutare Council managers

Harare (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested three former senior Mutare City Council officials on allegations of criminal abuse of office after they unprocedurally sold eight stands worth over US$450 000 belonging to the local authority.

In a statement on Wednesday, ZACC spokesperson Phylis Chikundura said former town clerk Obert Muzawazi, Richard Simbi who was the acting chief town planner and Donaldson Nyatoti who was director of works, have all been arrested for allegedly creating and selling the said stands.

Chikundura said during the commission of the alleged offence, Simbi was in charge of all the town planning of Mutare City Council, whilst Nyatoti was responsible for town planning, making layout plans, lodging layout plans with the department of physical planning and to see that they were approved by the responsible Minister.

Muzawazi on the other hand, was the overall accounting officer of the city by virtue of being the town clerk.
It is alleged that during the period extending from February 2005 to July 2014, the accused persons unlawfully and unprocedurally created and sold eight stands from the remainder of 2485 Umtali Township.

Investigations revealed that there was no council resolution authorizing the creation of the stands.

Two stands were allegedly allocated to Simbi and there was no proof that he paid their purchase price, said Chikundura.

When allocating the said stands, Muzawazi cited several council resolutions which do not exist purporting that council had authorized their sale.

Knowing fully well that the local layout plan had not been approved, the accused persons, acting in connivance, rushed with the unapproved layout plan and disposed residential stands to individuals measuring 20 967 square meters with an estimated value of U$482 241.00 without any approval from the Department of Physical Planning and Minister responsible.

New Ziana