The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested Chegutu Municipality town clerk Jacob Chikuruwo over the irregular sale of five hectares of land to Flying Pot Private Limited. Chikuruwo is facing a charge of criminal abuse of duty, alternatively fraud. According to ZACC, between 2011 and 2013, Chikuruwo, who was then chamber secretary for Chegutu Municipality, […]
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested Chegutu Municipality town clerk Jacob Chikuruwo over the irregular sale of five hectares of land to Flying Pot Private Limited.
Chikuruwo is facing a charge of criminal abuse of duty, alternatively fraud.
According to ZACC, between 2011 and 2013, Chikuruwo, who was then chamber secretary for Chegutu Municipality, failed in his duty to advise council on the procedures to be followed before selling land to Edward Pfugare’s Flying Pot Pvt Ltd.
It is alleged that he did not advise council to advertise the land and to seek a change of land use from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. As a result, the land was sold without following due process.
ZACC said Pfugare had 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, the municipality entered into negotiations with Pfugare to subdivide the leased land and sell him a portion measuring 5.1 hectares.
“A resolution was made by the local authority on August 15, 2012, to sell the excised portion to Pfugare for US$561 000,” ZACC said.
“Investigations, 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 4 September on US$100 bail.
