By Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
Harare – In a landmark ruling, the High Court of Zimbabwe has sentenced two former Harare City Council officials to 10 years in prison for criminal abuse of duty. Stanley Ndemera, the former Acting Finance Director, and Emmanuel Mutambirwa, the former Valuer and Estates Manager, were found guilty of parceling out commercial stands on land leased to Old Hararians Sports Club.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) arrested the duo after an investigation revealed that they had connived to facilitate the sale of the stands to three companies: Optel Enterprises, Silver Harbour Enterprises, and Leanforth Investment. The illegal transactions took place between September 2018 and August 2020.
The State, led by prosecutors Whisper Mabhaudi and Lovack Masuku, presented a strong case against the accused, leading to their conviction. High Court Judge Benjamin Chikowero presided over the matter and handed down the 10-year sentence to each of the defendants.
The ruling is a significant victory for the ZACC and a major blow to corruption in the country. It sends a strong message that those who abuse their positions of power will be held accountable for their actions.
The sentencing of Ndemera and Mutambirwa is a step in the right direction towards promoting transparency and accountability in the public sector. It is hoped that this ruling will serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in corrupt activities.
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