HARARE’S ward 29 councillor Blessing Duma was yesterday remanded in custody when he appeared in court facing extortion charges.
Duma will be back in court today before magistrate Stanford Mambanje for bail application.
The complainant is Addmore Nhekairo, City of Harare director for housing and community services.
Duma is the chairperson for the City of Harare audit committee, whose functions include overseeing Nhekairo’s department.
Prosecutor Mercy Masamvi said in June this year, Nhekairo’s office received two offer letters for two un-serviced residential stands in Mabelreign.
It is alleged that the documents did not have the signature and stamp of the principal housing officer, indicating that they had been referred to Nhekairo’s office.
Nhekairo allegedly decided to withhold the letters pending an internal investigation into the origins of the documents.
On August 26, Duma approached Nhekairo inquiring why he had not sign the offer letters.
Duma allegedly intimated to Nhekairo how it was prudent for him to fast-track the process by just appending his signature.
Nhekairo refused.
Thereafter, Duma allegedly went on to exert pressure on Nhekairo threatening to expose some alleged transgressions.
Duma forwarded three more names to Nhekairo ordering him to allocate them housing stands if he still wanted to remain in office.
The next day, Duma allegedly approached Nhekairo requesting the production of the signed letters.
The case was reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, leading to his arrest.