Zvikomborero Parafini
A Chitungwiza Municipality IT technician has been charged with criminal abuse of duty after allegedly making unauthorised changes to the billing system, which resulted in the name of a legitimate landowner being removed and replaced with that of a new owner.
Lorrie Motsi appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, who released her on US$200 bail, with a remand hearing set for December 20.
Allegations are that in 2008, Abigail Chipetekure, joined United We Stand Cooperative and was allocated stand number 31307 Unit A, Seke, after paying subscriptions in 2009.
The court heard that she processed all required paperwork with council and was given an allocation letter dated February 4, 2009.
In March 2009, she entered into a lease agreement with the Chitungwiza Municipality and was also issued with a certificate of occupation.
From 2009, she started paying rates to Chitungwiza Municipality and did not erect any structure.
It is the State’s case that in 2016 she discovered some developments on the property and she confronted the person behind the project who told her that they were the rightful owners as they had been allocated the stand by Chitungwiza Municipality.
Chipetekure went to check with Chitungwiza Municipality and was advised that the stand belonged to her.
In September this year, she checked with Chitungwiza Municipality and discovered that her stand was now in the name of Noriji Zuze, who was developing it.
She reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, and investigations showed that Motsi had non-procedurally made an alteration in the Chitungwiza Municipality billing system, removing Chipetekure’s name and replacing it with Zuze.
There is no evidence of any documentation that necessitated the change having gone through the council system in the respective file of the stand in question.
Anesu Chirenje appeared for the State