BY NEWSSPACEZIM WRITER
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of Chegutu Municipality Town Clerk, Jacob Chikuruwo over irregular sale of five hactares to Flying Pot Private Limited.
Chikuruwo faces a charge of criminal abuse of duty or alternatively fraud.
Allegations are that between 2011 and 2013, Chikuruwo who was Chegutu Municipality’s Chamber Secretary then, failed in his duties to advise the council on procedures to follow before selling land to Edward Pfugare’s Flying Pot Pvt Limited.
It is alleged that he did not advise Council to advertise and also seek change of land use from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, as a result, the land was sold without following due process.
Pfugare entered into a 99-year lease agreement with Chegutu Municipality in 1994, for the development of a restaurant and recreational facilities on a 12.3 hectare stand.
However, between 2010 and 2012, Chegutu Municipality entered into negotiations with Pfugare to subdivide the leased piece of land and sale him a portion measuring 5.1 hectares.
A resolution was made by the local authority on August 15, 2012, to sale the land the excised portion to Pfugare for US$561 000.
Investigation, however, established that the late businessman paid a deposit of US$50 000 for the land in question before a council resolution had been passed.
Chikuruwo appeared before Chegutu Magistrate Sharon Mashavira and was remanded to September 4 on US$100 bail. Abigirl Fana prosecuted for the State.
