News / National
Zanu-PF official sentenced to 4 yrs jail for fraud
26 Nov 2013 at 04:29hrs | Views
Former Harare North Housing Co-operatives Union chairperson Union chairperson and aspiring Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Justice Zvandasara has been jailed for 4 years after he was convicted of a $4 million fraud involving the illegal sale of residential stands in Hatcliffe.
The court heard that the land in question belonged to Mutare South MP Nyasha Chikwinya (Zanu-PF) and Jonathan Gapare.
Zvandasara, however, will serve an effective 2-year jail term, after the magistrate suspended the other 2 years on condition of good behaviour.
According to court records Zvandasara illegally sold residential stands to over 1 000 home seekers.
The stands were in a land measuring 84 000 hectares belonging to Zanu PF official Nyasha Chikwinya. Zvandasara had hoped to challenge Harare provincial chairman Amos Midzi in this weekend's elections.
"Yes I have been convicted, but our party's constitution says one can only become ineligible if sentenced to 12 months in prison without the option of a fine or a Presidential pardon," Zvandasara is quoted saying.
"I am positive that at the end of all this, I would be left in a position to contest and represent the people of Harare who are banking on me for visionary leadership."
He was convicted with his co-accused Tichaona Suruware, who was also slapped with an equivalent sentence after the State produced overwhelming evidence against them while their other co-accused Blessing Sigareta was acquitted for lack of evidence.
Meanwhile Chitungwiza residents have called for action to be taken against people that were involved in illegally parcelling out residential stands in the city.
Government has said results of an audit report probing illegal land allocations in Chitungwiza are likely to be released today.
Residents said they were hopeful the probe team would come up with recommendations that ensured Chitunwgiza has a clear housing policy that plugs loopholes.
The court heard that the land in question belonged to Mutare South MP Nyasha Chikwinya (Zanu-PF) and Jonathan Gapare.
Zvandasara, however, will serve an effective 2-year jail term, after the magistrate suspended the other 2 years on condition of good behaviour.
According to court records Zvandasara illegally sold residential stands to over 1 000 home seekers.
The stands were in a land measuring 84 000 hectares belonging to Zanu PF official Nyasha Chikwinya. Zvandasara had hoped to challenge Harare provincial chairman Amos Midzi in this weekend's elections.
"Yes I have been convicted, but our party's constitution says one can only become ineligible if sentenced to 12 months in prison without the option of a fine or a Presidential pardon," Zvandasara is quoted saying.
"I am positive that at the end of all this, I would be left in a position to contest and represent the people of Harare who are banking on me for visionary leadership."
He was convicted with his co-accused Tichaona Suruware, who was also slapped with an equivalent sentence after the State produced overwhelming evidence against them while their other co-accused Blessing Sigareta was acquitted for lack of evidence.
Meanwhile Chitungwiza residents have called for action to be taken against people that were involved in illegally parcelling out residential stands in the city.
Government has said results of an audit report probing illegal land allocations in Chitungwiza are likely to be released today.
Residents said they were hopeful the probe team would come up with recommendations that ensured Chitunwgiza has a clear housing policy that plugs loopholes.
Source - zimbabwefocus.com
