Hamutendi Kombayi
Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
A RULING on a bail application by suspended Gweru Mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi, his deputy Clr Artwell Matyorauta and Town Clerk Daniel Matawu, who allegedly stole about $8,700 from the local authority, has been deferred to today.
The trio was not asked to plead when they appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Phathekile Msipa facing theft and criminal abuse of office charges.
Msipa deferred the bail ruling to today saying she needed time to go over submissions from both the state and defence counsels.
The trio was remanded in custody.
Prosecutor Helen Khosa opposed bail for the trio arguing that police needed more time to carry out investigations.
“The trio could interfere with investigations considering that the state witnesses are their subordinates,” said Khosa.
The investigation officer, Inspector Johannes, told the court that Kombayi had two pending cases which would be brought to court and hence he was a flight risk while Matawu and Matyorauta had properties that they could sell and escape to neighbouring countries.
The trio’s lawyer, Reginald Chidawanyika, argued that there was no basis to place his clients on remand.
Khosa said during the period between July 31, 2013 to June 30 last year, the trio acting in common purpose, connived to steal and abuse ratepayers’ funds by making unlawful payments for non-council business to meet expenses for their private activities and functions.
“During that period the accused persons made a payment of $1,875 to Antelope Park and Resort and Fairmile Motel using ratepayers’ funds to meet expenses for Morgan Tsvangirai and his entourage’s private function,” she said.
Khosa told the court that the trio made an unauthorised payment of $ 6,858 to Fairmile and Village Lodge using rate payers’ funds without council authority on non-council business to meet the expenses related to their personal and private business bringing the total to $8,733.