COUNCIL OFFICIAL BASHES ZAAC OFFICIALS
SUSPENDED City of Harare principal road maintenance engineer, Albert Madanha, bashed Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption officials who arrested him at his home on Sunday, on allegations of abuse of office.
When the three ZACC officials introduced themselves and informed Madanha of their intention to arrest him, he allegedly tried to close the door.
However, the officers stepped in and prevented him from closing it.
Madanha, according to the State, strongly resisted the arrest and turned violent.
He started kicking and punching the officers.
After a prolonged scuffle, the officers later managed to handcuff him and took him to the ZACC offices.
A second charge of assault was preferred against him in addition to the criminal abuse of duty charge.
The court heard that in September 2022, Southern Plan Energy, approached Madanha seeking assistance on how they could acquire land from the City of Harare for the purpose of establishing an LPG Cylinder Filling Station.
Madanha allegedly advised Southern Plan Energy to identify a vacant piece of land, which might be suitable for their intended business.
Southern Plan Energy identified an area at the corner of Wilson Road and Piers Road in Borrowdale, which is a road servitude.
It is the State’s case that Madanha, without the permission and approval from Council, entered into an agreement with Southern Plan Energy, which enabled the company to do its construction work and designs on Council land for the purpose of operating an LPG Cylinder Filling Station.
This was without following proper Council land leasing procedures.
He allegedly issued a forged design permit and a notice to Southern Plan Energy for them to proceed with improvements on the land without following the dictates of the Urban Councils Act.
On June 2 last year, using documents and certificates which were forged, Madanha allegedly made Southern Plan Energy pay US$2 084 as land development levy to him and the money was not remitted to the City of Harare.
Madanha appeared before magistrate Taurai Manuwere and was remanded in custody to today for bail considerations.
Anesu Chirenje appeared for the State.