By Correspondent
Former Public Service and Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye has been readmitted into ZANU PF a few months after completing her jail term.
Kagonye was jailed in June 2022 for having converted laptops donated by the Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) to personal use during her time in office.
The laptops were meant to support rural schools under the e-learning project.
She was sentenced to three years in jail, but 12 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
A further eight months were suspended on condition that she reimburses Postal & Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe US$10 000.
That left her with an effective 16-month jail term.
Wetland Scandal
However, Kagonye hogged limelight when she sought to construct a wedding venue inside the Hillside Park.
It was sited at an intersection between Chiremba Road and Brooks Drive near OK Mart, which is a wetland.
Residents of Hillside raised alarm over the conversion of their local park into a wedding venue.
They argued that the place is a wetland and not suitable for any type of development.
High Court judge justice Joseph Musakwa granted an interim relief stopping the developments on the Park.
Under pressure, Harare City Council then conceded that it erred in leasing out the recreational park to Kagonye before proper assessment.
In an interview then Harare mayor Herbert Gomba said the council would re-evaluate the lease agreement.
“The first issue is when the lease was signed, the council was not informed on the status of the land.
“We have tasked our lawyers to look at the lease agreement and also we are moving to negotiate with the lease holder with view of relocation,” said Gomba.
Kagonye has been readmitted together with other formerly expelled members who include Ignatius Chombo and Killer Zivhu.