CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: There was no joy for River Valley Properties Chief Executive Officer Simelilanga Dube again today after Gokwe resident Magistrate Taurai Manwere postponed her bail and appeal hearings to 12 March 2021.
Manwere cited that court needs to allow the state to assess submissions.
According to State papers, Dube’s charges include allegedly working with former Midlands Governor, Jason Machaya, who was jailed over land deals last September, former senior Government official Matilda Manhambo and allocated land and developed it without engineering designs and as a result, 669 beneficiaries suffered prejudice of over US$460 000.
On count two and three, Dube, working with Machaya and former Gweru District Administrator Shepherd Marweyi allegedly allocated State land in Gweru, Shurugwi and Zvishavane defrauding the Government of US$9 million.
The state led by Mirirai Shumba opposed Dube’s bail appeal indicating that the accused is facing serious allegations to which if she convicted, she will face a lengthy custodial sentence.
The court also heard that Dube is a woman of means and if granted bail it’s enough fertile ground for her to skip the boarder and find residence outside the country thereby jeopardising the interest of justice.
However, Dube’s defense counsel opposed the state’s submissions citing that Dube has the right to bail as highlighted in the constitution.
Meanwhile, former coordinator in the Public Works department; Matilda Manhambo is also behind bars facing allegations of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
