Salary Slip
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 3, 2012
- 47,013
- 144,371
FORMER Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, who just recently spent two weeks in remand prison on graft charges, yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing fresh corruption and bribery charges.
Chombo (64) was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, who remanded him out of custody on the same bail conditions he was issued at the High Court to January 8 next year.
The complainant in the matter is property developer Eddie Pfugari of Pfugari Land Developers represented by the managing director, Edward Nyanyiwa.
It is the State’s case that sometime in 1997, Pfugari purchased White Cliff Farm from Fredrick John William Smith, with the property being transferred to him under Deed of Transfer 10444/2000.
Prior to the acquisition of the property by Pfugari, the government had issued a Certificate of No Present Interest on the land.
Pfugari then applied for and was granted a subdivision permit and he subdivided the farm into residential stands, which he sold to prospective homeowners.
The State alleges sometime in 2000, Chombo, who was then Local Government minister, illegally allocated residential stands to settlers on Pfugari’s property.
As a result, Pfugari allegedly lost property valued at $200 million.
It is alleged Chombo appeared to be sympathetic to Pfugari and invited him to his offices.
While at his offices, Chombo assured Pfugari that he would remove the illegal settlers using ministerial authority on condition the landowner would give him consideration or reward in the form of a piece of land in Norton, where the complainant was selling some stands.
The State alleges Pfugari was desperate and was caused to give Chombo stand number 5841 Knowe, Norton, measuring 3 712 acres valued at $310 150.
Pfugari was allegedly advised to transfer the stand to Ronchelle Trading (Pvt) Ltd, a company whose directors are Nimrod Chiminya (Chombo’s brother) and Kumbirai Mubwandarika, under Deed of Transfer 10761/02.
It is alleged the shelf company was set up and used specifically for that transaction only.
Edmore Nyazanda appeared for the State.
Source: Chombo in court on fresh charges - NewsDay Zimbabwe
