A NORTON land developer, Cuthbert Mupame, is demanding $100
000 from Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) commissioner Goodson Nguni
for allegedly causing his arrest and detention on charges of parcelling out
agricultural land to prospective home seekers at Kingsdale Farm without
government approval.
Mupame, who is represented by Admire Rubaya of Rubaya and
Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, was placed on remand last Friday.
He alleged the instruction to detain him was actuated by
malice and is in bad faith as police officers sent to investigate him found out
there was no reasonable suspicion that he committed the offence.
In a letter of demand to Nguni seen by NewsDay, Mupame said
the land he was being accused of selling without government approval was
actually his after he bought it from Pieter Nicholas Nel. He said an agreement
of sale was availed before the Zacc investigators Assistant Inspector
Maparamoto and one Mandofa.
“Our client considered the view that Zacc officials Nguni
and Masiye as public officers did not act in good faith. They acted with
culpable negligence, abusing their positions for self-gratification and also in
a bid to please certain political vultures,” the letter read.
“It is our client’s understanding that the drive against
corruption by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa does not mean that
Zacc officials should abuse their powers by just causing the arrest and
detention of individuals without due regard to the need for them to act
reasonably.”
Mupame said Nguni had unusual interests in the matter given
that he had to drive from his offices to National Prosecution Authority offices
to try and sway them to illegally place him on remand.
“Our client believes that these are bad apples that should
be nipped in the bud (sic) otherwise they are destroying the legacy of the
leadership of the new dispensation ushered in by Operation Restore Legacy,” the
letter read.
“We have, therefore, been instructed to demand payment in
the sum of $100 000 from yourselves vicariously for the delictual conduct of
your officers – Goodson Nguni and Mr Masiye – in their personal capacities,”
Mupame’s lawyers wrote.
The lawyers also filed an application at Harare
Magistrates’ Court for the removal of Mupame from remand, saying the
complainant, Norton City Council represented by town clerk Kizito Muhomba, had
no resolution stating that he was legally representing the local authority. Newsday
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