By Martin Mawaya
Gokwe Regional Magistrate Taurai Manuweri has denied bail to the business mogul and River valley Chief Executive Officer Dr Smelly Dube, after he noted that the state “has proved that the accused might abscond and interfere with witnesses if granted bail”.
Dr Dube’s legal counsel Mr Nqobani Sithole said they will appeal to the high court against the decision.
Dr Smelly Dube
She is currently detained at a private hospital was arrested on the 3rd of March 2021 by Special Anti-Corruption Unit and is facing three counts of fraud and in alternatively conspiracy to criminal abuse of duty by a public officer as defined in section 189(1) of Criminal law codification and reform act chapter 9:23.
The state alleges that Dr Dube connived with Matilda Manhambo a former housing officer in the Ministry of local government and public works, Jaison Machaya former Govenor and Resident Minister and Shepherd Marweyi former District Administrator to be allocated a total of 2169 stands where beneficiaries prejudiced more than US$9.4million.
The state further stated that in 2005, Dr Dube working in collusion with Manhambo allocated 669 stands at small Holdings 4 (Woodlands Park) on behalf of the former late Resident Minister Cephas Msipa without authority from the responsible ministry.
She serviced the stands and misrepresented the beneficiaries that she owned the land and sold to them for US$3.50 per square metre without a binding agreement with the government and the beneficiaries prejudiced a total of US $468 300.
On the second count it is alleged that Dube working with Machaya and Marweyi through a letter they cosigned at Mabula farm in Zvishavane allocated 1000 stands despite the fact that the land was not handed over to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works by the Ministry of Rural Resettlement.
She serviced the stands and misrepresented to the beneficiaries that she owned the stands and sold them for US$10 to US$15 per square metre and the beneficiaries prejudiced US$6000 000.
Dube in 2013 allocated stands at Magakooshla Shurugwi by Machaya and Marweyi with no authority from the Ministry of Local Government and Public works.
She sold it at US$9 to US$15 per square metre without the approval of engineering designs and beneficiaries prejudiced US$3000 000.
The case was remanded to the 29th of March 2021.
Mirirai Shumba prosecuted.
