Published by the government of Zimbabwe
25 July 2008
Harare — THE newly-elected non-executive mayor for Chitungwiza Municipality, Israel Marange yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with criminal abuse of duty after he allegedly received US$1 000 from his former guard as "token of appreciation" for facilitating his allocation of a residential stand.
Marange (58), who was represented by Mr Alec Muchadehama of Mbidzo Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, arrived at the courts in a police truck under guard from two detectives.
There was drama outside the court building when one of the detectives escorting Marange charged towards The Herald photographer Justin Mutenda in a bid to prevent him from taking the mayor's photograph.
For unknown reasons, the detective was heard shouting at Mutenda threatening him with arrest for taking the photograph.
Harare magistrate Ms Chioniso Mutongi, however, released Marange on $4 trillion bail and remanded him to August 7.
She ordered him to report to the police on Mondays and Fridays every week and to continue residing at House Number 17604, Zengeza 4 until the matter is finalised.
Marange should not interfere with investigations and State witnesses, the court ruled.
According to prosecutor Ms Fadzai Kuipa, Marange was arrested barely a day after he commenced his mayoral duties.
It is the State's case that Mr Darlington Mapfuma, who is also MDC youth vice chairman for Ward 14 in Zengeza, was allocated Stand Number 13227 Nyatsime Phase 3 last month and was invited to sign for it on July 7 this year.
It is alleged, Mr Mapfuma paid $1,8 billion for a low-density stand measuring 1 000 square metres this month.
The relationship between Mr Mapfuma and Marange stem from the post-harmonised poll period when Mr Mapfuma offered security services to Marange.
The State alleges that after Marange's mayoral appointment, he then facilitated the allocation of the stand to Mr Mapfuma before demanding to be paid R25 000 as a "token of appreciation" for facilitating the allocation of the stand.
After failing to raise the required money, Mr Mapfuma, who is now a cross-border trader, reported the matter to the police.
On July 22, detectives from the criminal investigation department's fraud section set up a trap and Marange was arrested just after receiving US$1 000 from Mr Mapfuma.
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