Zvimba Rural District Council CEO in the dock

ZVIMBA Rural District Council (ZRDC) chief executive officer Peter Hlohla, who is accused of benefiting from illicit land deals that prejudiced the council of thousands of dollars, was yesterday arraigned before a Harare magistrate, who released him on $300 bail.

Hlohla (40) appeared before Ms Josephine Sande on charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

The State, however, indicated that investigations were still ongoing and that more charges were likely to be preferred against Hlohla.

He is being represented by Messrs Dumisani Mthombeni, Walter Bherebhende and Musekiwa Mbanje.

The State had proposed $500 bail and that he be barred from going to his workplace since further investigations were being conducted there.

His lawyers led by Mr Mthombeni contested the condition of barring him from work and that $500 was too much before proposing $200.

“Your Worship, our client is still going to work, he has not been suspended by his employer. For the courts to now suspend him from his workplace will be unlawful,” he said.

Ms Sande concurred with the defence and scrapped the condition.

She then ordered that Hlohla deposits $300 with the Clerk of Court, to report once a week to Chinhoyi police, surrender his passport and not to interfere with witnesses until the matter is finalised. He was remanded to April 3. Prosecuting, Ms Linda Gadzikwa alleged that sometime in 2011, the ZRDC entered into a private partnership with a developer in order to develop upmarket stands that are located in the Mount Hampden area.

ZRDC is said to have provided land and developer capital which was meant to fund the project.

Furthermore, it is alleged that during the period of January 2013 to December 2015, Hlohla, who is the ZRDC’s physical planner, offered stands to various individuals in Haydon.

At the time, he allegedly committed the crime, Hlohla was the sole custodian of the general maps and dispensation certificates from the surveyor-general which showed the actual size of stands.

Using his authority, Hlohla, on 12 different occasions, allegedly originated offer letters to various individuals that were on the council’s waiting list.

Hlohla is alleged to have reduced the size of the stands on the offer letters, while he offered the rest to other beneficiaries as a show of favour, the State alleged.

Hlohla also signed lease agreements with the reduced sizes as they appeared on the offer letters, prejudicing the council of 3 986 square meters valued at $91 678.