By Tinashe Mungazi
Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube who is facing abuse of office charges was further remanded in custody to Monday for his bail application hearing. ย
Dube (54) stands accused of influencing the awarding of a commercial stand to tourism operator, Shearwater in violation of tender procedures.
He was arrested on Wednesday by officers from the joint Police Anti-Corruption Unit (PACU) and Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU).
Dube, who was represented by Matshobana Ncube of Ncube and Partners assisted by Nomusa Khumalo of Mvhiringi and Partnersย appeared before Hwange Provincial Magistrate Gladmore Mushove on Friday seeking bail.
However, state prosecutor Martha Cheda opposed bail arguing that Dube would interfere with witnesses most of whom were his juniors and temper with evidence.
“Accused person is facing a serious offence in which he used his position and because of that may interfere with witnesses and tamper with evidence. Accused is not on suspension at work and he is a senior employee who if released he may use this to influence them. The sentence attached to this kind of crime upon conviction may cause him to abscond trial. Furthermore, the Investigation officer said there are ongoing investigations which will require two weeks to finalised as such we opposed the bail application,” said Cheda.
Mushove remanded him in custody to Monday to allow her time to prepare her ruling.
Allegations against Dube are that on 8 September 2017, he received a request to purchase additional land behind stands 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386 and 943 from Ntokozo Mlilo, group human resources manager for Shearwater Adventures.
It is further alleged that Dube then caused the evaluation of the stand by Becktone P/L who responded to him on 11 February 2019 with the value of the stand.
He went on to misrepresent to Victoria Falls ordinary full council meeting through a Town Clerk’s report, that one applicant Shearwater had expressed interest to acquire a commercial stand number 1782, Victoria Falls yet in the actual fact there were other companies that had also expressed interest such as Wild Horizons.
Council adopted the report and resolved to offer it to Shearwater without following tender procedures as required by the 1 April 2014 council resolution which required that commercial stands be sold on a tender.
The state said Dube in the exercise of his duties or functions as such, intentionally influenced Council through his report to sell a commercial stand 1782 without following tender procedures.
