Corruption cases will now be expedited within two months
after a suspect is arrested with nine of the 27 recently opened court cases
ready for trial — a departure from the previous trend where accused persons
waited longer for a trial date.
According to the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office
of the President and Cabinet (Sacu), the State is ready to deal with cases
related to Harare City Council stands and Zesa tender scandals.
The suspected corruption officials were arrested between
July and August and will face trial from next week.
Sacu chair Mr Thabani Mpofu said the main thrust was to
expedite corruption cases in the courts for effective delivery of justice.
President Mnangagwa has declared zero tolerance to
corruption and warned that all suspected corrupt activities will be thoroughly
investigated while those found on the wrong side of the law will face the full
wrath of the law.
Mr Mpofu said, “The objective is to process these
corruption cases in our courts in the shortest possible period with minimum
delays. This includes the allocation off trial dates within a maximum period of
two months of the accused persons’ first appearance in court.”
He added that between this month and October, those who
were arrested for corruption in the past two months will be dragged for trial.
According to court documents, some of the accused persons
who will face trial on 17 September 2020 are former Harare Mayor Councillor
Herbert Gomba who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office for allegedly allocating
State land to Taringana Housing Cooperative.
Others in the dock are Harare human resources director
Matthew Marara who allegedly fraudulently sold stands in Kuwadzana.
His co-accused Aaron Tayerera, Charles Sigauke, Tutsirai
Kanojerera who are all facing charges of prejudicing council of land valued at
US$670 000.
The State will also put other council officials namely,
Harare acting town planner Samuel Nyabezi and chief land surveyor Munyaradzi
Bowa who are facing criminal abuse of office charges over the allocation of
State land to Taringana Housing Cooperative.
The duo is accused of creating a bigger layout plan and
approved land worth US$416 700 for allocation despite it being State land,
which can only be demarcated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public
Works.
Police director of intelligence Commissioner Douglas
Nyakutsikwa will stand trial on 29 September 2020, for criminal abuse of office
after he allegedly used his power to benefit from council stands under
suspicious circumstances.
He allegedly received three residential stands in Vainona —
two of which were allocated to his friend Trynos Shonhiwa and his
brother-in-law Luke Buroma.
The trial of businessman Farai Jere and two Zesa officials
Leonard Chisina and Freeman Kuziva has been set for 15 September 2020, for
alleged fraud in a case involving a smart meter tender valued at US$3,5
million.
The trio is accused of misrepresenting to ZETDC that a Factory
Acceptance Test (FAT) for smart meters and Head End Systems was done in the
United Kingdom. It is alleged that the meters did not meet the required
specifications. Herald
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