The ruling on the bail application by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who allegedly corruptly allocated Westlea stands to his sister and his law firm’s secretary, has been set for 2.15pm today.

The ruling will be made by deputy chief magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande.

Mafume is being charged with criminal abuse of office.
Mrs Makwande was set to deliver the ruling on Saturday but a fellow magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro deferred the matter to today after she failed to attend court for the ruling because of other commitments.

The State led by Mr Panganayi Chiutsi opposed granting of bail to Mafume saying he was likely to interfere with witnesses, who are council employees.

Mr Chiutsi also argued that since the State had a strong case, Mafume was likely to evade trial once freed on bail.

To support the argument for refusal of bail, the State called the investigating officer, Superintendent Joseph Sirimhindi, to testify.

The senior police officer told the court that Mafume “holds the highest office at City of Harare and he is likely to interfere with witnesses there”.

-State Media