Rutendo Nyeve , Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has arrested Umzingwane Rural District Council chief executive officer, Ndumiso Mpofu, for alleged abuse of office, as the anti-graft body continues to net alleged corrupt officials in local and rural district authorities.
Mpofu (55) was arrested on Friday night and appeared before Esigodini magistrate Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda yesterday facing criminal abuse of duty as a public officer as defined in section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. Mrs Sibanda remanded Mpofu in custody to tomorrow for bail ruling. Prosecuting, Mr Vhusani Moyo said Mpofu unlawfully sold stands to a mining company.
“On 2 September 2019 Mpofu unlawfully sold State land designated for a community multi-sport centre to a company known as Trukumb Mining (Pvt) Ltd for US$76 000-00 without going to tender and without first getting Council approval or resolution.
The land in question measures 3,96 hectares and appears in the Department of Physical Site Plan captioned PROPOSED SPORTS COMPLEX SITE HABANE referenced GA 364,” said Mr Moyo.
In opposing bail, Mr Moyo said Mpofu had a known record, previous conviction, pending cases before the court and was likely to abscond.
He further said there was overwhelming evidence that Mpofu was likely to be convicted and as such he could abscond to evade justice.