Former Finance Director Stanley Ndemera was initially arrested in 2020 together with former Mayor Herbert Gomba, Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and Chamber Secretary Charles Kandemiri for corruptly selling Mount Pleasant Sports Club and golf course. @OpenParlyZw @4lowthemoney pic.twitter.com/nvs4SshRA4
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
While Ndemera and Kandemiri were found guilty and sentenced to six years each Gomba and Chisango were acquitted.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
The trial court heard that Ndemera and Kandemiri sold the council-owned Mt Pleasant Sports Club in Vainona, including the golf course, without following procedure.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
Their actions, the judge ruled, were deliberate. The stand was sold to Hardspec Investments for $23 923 340 while the club was quoted at US$2,3 million.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
The two were convicted and jailed for an effective six years each on charges of criminal abuse of office.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
They sought leave to appeal against both conviction and sentence, but Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who presided over the separate applications by the two, found no merit in either and threw them out.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
While in jail Ndemera was arrested again in 2023 by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on a second charge of criminal abuse of office over allegations he illegally sold prime land in Borrowdale during his tenure.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
Ndemera was accused of selling the land in question to Vitof Investments without council authority.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
This deal was done in connivance with Council Valuer Emmanuel Mutambirwa, who was himself on remand over a similar allegation.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
At the time of his arrest Ndemera joined several other heads within the local authority that included Chisango, housing director Admore Nhekairo, human resources boss Cainos Chingombe, acting human resources director Matthew Marara& security chief Collen Tongoona with cases.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 15, 2024
