The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Post Correspondent
TWO Mutare councillors and a former councillor are facing extortion charges.
Last week, Wards 11 and 17 councillors — Farai Bhiza and John Nyamhoka — and former Ward 17 councillor Wellington Zambezi appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Prisca Manhibi.
The trio was not asked to plead and were remanded out of custody to October 28 on $5 000 bail each.
They were ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to continue residing at their given addresses.
Mr Chris Munyuki prosecuted.
The court heard that sometime in 2018, the three extorted US$250 from Mr Samuel Masaiti, a local resident who wanted to regularise his residential stand with Mutare City Council.
Bhiza reportedly phoned Mr Masaiti and asked for money so that he could facilitate the regularisation of the Chikanga stand.
The trio sent Zambezi to meet Mr Masaiti’s friend — Mr Tamayi Verenga — to collect the money.
Zambezi received US$50 from Mr Verenga before demanding more.
“The following day, Mr Masaiti gave Bhiza another US$200,” said Mr Munyuki.
When Mr Masaiti made several follow-ups on the progress of the stand’s regularisation, he realised that he had been conned. A fortnight ago, Mr Masaiti made a report at Mutare Central Police Station, thereby leading to the trio’s arrest.
