Own Correspondent

Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba was denied bail when he appeared before a Harare magistrate on Friday.

Gomba appeared before regional magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande who ruled there was high risk he would interfere with evidence if released on bail.

The court also noted that once the State proves that he was the author of a letter that gave green light to development of the piece of land he allegedly awarded to Taringa Housing Scheme, chances of a prison term were high.

“This would induce him to escape the jurisdiction of the court,” said Mrs Makwande, before dismissing his bail application.

Circumstances leading to Gomba’s arrest are that sometime last year, he allegedly connived with his accomplices, who are yet to be accounted for by police, and altered an approved layout plan belonging to Youth in Business Housing Trust.

In doing so, Gomba and his accomplices, allegedly converted State land into council land and allocated it to Taringana Housing Scheme, with the same plan number that was allocated to Youths in Business Trust.

It is said, Gomba, in his capacity as the ceremonial mayor, originated a memorandum dated February 18, 2020 saying that the Plan for Taringana Housing Scheme had been approaved and council should survey the said piece of land.

The court heard that the letter was misleading and inaccurate since the same plan had been issued and approved by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to the Youths in Business Housing Scheme.

Plans to proceed with the piece of land in question had also been set aside by the Town Clerk, but Gomba disregarded such advice, a court heard.

The State alleges that Gomba acted beyond his powers as a ceremonial mayor.

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) inspected the piece of land and noted that 40 percent of it was a wetland and recommended that the part be left out.

But Gomba allegedly went ahead to demarcate the wetland, in violation of the EMA recommendations.

His actions were said to have shown favour to Taringana Housing Trust and disfavour to Youths in Business Housing Scheme.