Former City Director jailed

Zvikomborero Parafini FORMER Chitungwiza Municipality director of works Emmanuel Mushata was yesterday sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment after being convicted of criminal abuse of duty. Mushata was convicted of a full trial last week by Harare regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje. Of the 48 months, magistrate Mambanje suspended twelve on the condition that he doesn’t commit a similar offence in the next five years, and 36 years are effective.

In the sentencing judgment, magistrate Mambanje indicated that the court while, aware of the need to be merciful to the Mushata, was not blinded by mercy. He further indicated that the courts cannot be seen to condone corruption among public officials. The state led by District Public Prosecutor Tafara Chirambira advocated for a stiff sentence citing that the country continued to suffer due to public sector corruption and urged the courts pass deterrent sentences.



Chirambira proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mushata had illegally allocated a residential stand to Chengetai Nyagondo, who was an MDC-T Councillor for Zengeza back then. Mushata was initially charged with Nyagondo and Alex Mukweva, a former director of housing at the local authority. The State said sometime in November 2019, Mushata identified an open space in Zengeza 4 without following the provisions of the Chitungwiza Municipality Housing Policy.

Mambanje acquitted Mukweva saying he had done his duties under the director’s instructions and Nyagondo was simply a beneficiary and thus no wrong had been proven in him benefiting from the stand as it was a statutory benefit..