The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
CHIPINGE District Administrator, William Mashava, was this week arrested on allegations of abuse of duty as a public officer.
Mashava (45) is being charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 in which he is accused of unilaterally withdrawing an offer letter from a farmer without notifying her.
He is alleged to have reallocated the plot to another person. He is alleged to have committed the offence when he was still Makoni District Administrator before he was transferred to Chipinge late last year.
Mashava who was a self actor pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi.
He told the court that he did not act alone, but was implementing a decision that was passed by the District Lands Committee which he chaired.
State prosecutor, Mr Gift Mutigwa, told the court that Mashava did not notify the complainant, Theresa Kasvosve of the intention to withdraw her permit for plots 38 and 39, Lesbury Resettlement.
“Sometime 2000, Kasvosve was allocated plots 38 and 39 at Lesbury Resettlement, Rusape, measuring five hectares each under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme. In 2003, the plots were annexed and the complainant was issued with a single permit for the two plots by Makoni Rural District Council. Since 2001 up to 2014, the complainant was utilising the plots.
“On October 3, 2014, the complainant was issued with a replacement permit Number 47779/14 for the plots by Makoni Rural District Council after she had lost her original permit. On October 8, 2014, Mashava ordered MRDC to issue a permit in respect of plots 38 and 39, Lesbury Resettlement owned by Kasvosve to Shepherd Nyika who was issued with Permit Number 47784 /14.
“Mashava did not properly notify complainant of the intention to withdraw her permit for plots 38 and 39, Lesbury Resettlement without giving her chance to make representations. Mashava acted in an unlawful manner,” said Mr Mutigwa.
Mrs Hanzi adjourned the matter to August 17 for continuation of the trial.
