Harare City Planner, Priscilla Charumbira was this Thursday granted $40 000 bail when she appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
Charumbira, who is wife to the president of the Chief’s Council Fortune Charumbira, was ordered not to visit her workplace or any city of Harare premises for a month and to continue residing at her given address as part of her bail conditions.
Mrs Charumbira was also ordered to report once every Fridays at Highlands police station and not to interfere with state witnesses.
The State led by Mr George Manokore had opposed bail saying the accused persons was a flight risk and that she was likely to interfere with witnesses.
Charumbira’s lawyer professor Lovemore Madhuku argued that the state had not placed compelling reasons as to why bail was being opposed adding that charges levelled against his client were not serious.
Magistrate Makwande deferred the matter to November 28 for routine remand.
Mrs Charumbira is alleged to have irregularly changed land use plan for open spaces in Sunningdale and along Samora Machel Avenue and allocated the land to acolytes and friends at the expense of the public.
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