Rusape councillor in $2 000 stand scandal

Samuel Kadungure Crime Reporter
HARDLY six months after being elected as a Makoni Rural District Council councillor through a by-election, Farai Givers Shumbaimwe was recently arrested over a stand scandal.

Shumbaimwe, who was elected to represent Makoni RDC Ward 27 in a November 7, 2015 after the incumbent, Clr Abel Mutizwa, was knocked down by a car at Nyazura and died on the spot, now faces criminal abuse of office charges as define in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

Shumbaimwe (63) of Village 3, Mutanda, Mahere in Nyazura has another criminal charges of violating Section 176 of the aforementioned law after he allegedly assaulted and destroyed the identity card of the arresting detective.

The offences were committed on May 7, 2016 in Rukweza, Nyazura.

Shumbaimwe was not asked to plead when he appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro last week for allegedly defrauding Makoni RDC employee $1 000.

Shumbaimwe was granted $50 bail.

Mr Mutiro ordered him to remain at the given address and not to interfere with witnesses until the finalisation of the matter.

Prosecutor, Mr Kudakwashe Brown told the court that on April 27, Mr Zhande, a planner with Makoni RDC approached the accused looking for a plot to purchase.

It was within Shumbaimwe’s powers as councillor of the area to recommend potential land beneficiaries under the land reform programme in Ward 27.

“On May 7, the accused called Paul Zhande and demanded $2 000 to facilitate the allocation of land he had previously expressed an interest in. Detectives got wind of the deal and approached Mr Zhande who confirmed having been asked to pay a land facilitation fee of $2 000,” said Mr Brown.

The court heard that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Rusape set up a trap that involved Mr Zhande and one female detective who posed as his wife.

Three other detectives trailed the ‘couple’ which had been given $1 000 trap money from a distance and pounced after an unsuspecting Shumbaimwe had received the money.

“A trap was made where Zhanda and a female detective posing as his wife proceeded to Nyazura where they were shown the piece of land for which Shumbaimwe had demanded $2 000 before allocating it to Mr Zhande. After having been shown and expressing satisfaction, Mr Zhande’s ‘wife’ told Shumbaimwe that they had brought a deposit of $1 000,” said Mr Brown.

Shumbaimwe took the trap money, insisting that the balance of $1 000 be paid at an agreed date.

The three detectives who were watching from a distance swooped after being given a signal by their female counterpart Shumbaimwe had received the money.

“One of the detectives produced an identity card to prove that they were police officers and – Shumbaimwe reacted violently by grabbing the identity card and destroyed it. He resisted arrest before being overpowered,” Mr Brown added. The trap money was recovered from the accused and can be produced in court as an exhibit.