Insiza Rural District Council chairperson Daniel Konopo Mpofu has been acquitted on charges of abusing his office and swindling a Bulawayo-based property developer.
BY SILAS NKALA
Mpofu (68) was accused of collecting cash and vehicle parts worth $1 065 from N & S Properties director Nicholas Masuku promising to facilitate a housing tender.
Masuku had also accused the local authority’s chairperson of demanding bribes.
However, Bulawayo magistrate Merilyn Mutshina dismissed the case for lack of evidence.
She said part of the evidence proffered by State witnesses was not helpful.
“It is common cause that the accused received the money from N & S Properties,” Mutshina said.
“Accused admits that he received the money from complainant and he intended to reimburse him. The last three State witnesses gave evidence, which did not assist the State in proving a case against the accused.”
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She said even the Insiza Rural District Council chairperson Fedris Manhombe’s evidence in court did not add any value to the State case.
“In the circumstances you are found not guilty and acquitted,” she ruled.
Prosecutor Kudakwashe Jaravaza had claimed that between July 2 2014 and May 6 2015, Mpofu solicited for assistance from Masuku on behalf of Insiza Rural District Council promising him that they would be partners in a land development project in Filabusi. Jaravaza said Mpofu received $470 and a truck head cylinder from Masuku for favours so that he could assist the land developer to get housing stands, but the deal did not materialise.
