The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
ENVIRONMENTAL Management Agency (EMA)’s Manicaland provincial manager, Kingstone Chitotombe, was on Wednesday arrested on criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
Chitotombe (43) who was arrested by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) officers, appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Tafadzwa Mhlanga yesterday (Thursday) and was not asked to plead.
He was remanded out of custody to March 25 on US$100 bail.
In granting him bail, Mr Mhlanga ordered Chitotombe to continue residing at his given address until the finalisation of the matter and not to interfere with State witnesses.
Prosecuting, Ms Tinotenda Muzondo, said Chitotombe who was represented by Mr Innocent Mandikate of Mugadza, Chinzamba and Partners, allegedly misused his authority as a public officer by allocating private land to a local beekeeper.
It is alleged that on the July 3, last year, and at the Environmental Management Agency Mutare offices, Chitotombe unlawfully and intentionally granted permission to Maxwell Makoni to use land opposite Plot 77 in Irene Township to practice beekeeping knowing very well that the place is a private land owned by Ferro Consulting of Zimbabwe.
“Chitotombe knew fully well that EMA does not have power to regulate beekeeping,” said Ms Muzondo.
