Harare councillor Duma arrested for extortion

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Chief Reporter

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Harare Ward 29 Councillor Blessing Duma on allegations of extortion.

Duma, who chairs the Harare City Council Audit Committee, is accused of coercing Director of Housing and Community Services Admore Nhekairo to allocate two unserviced residential stands in Mabelreign Township.

According to ZACC, Duma allegedly threatened Nhekairo with adverse action by the Audit Committee if he refused to sign the allocation letters for Welter Chigwereva and Danai Dzawanda.

Duma is expected to appear at the Harare Magistrate Court on September 19, 2024.

The arrest comes at a time when a commission of inquiry, set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is investigating Harare City's operations since 2017. Duma has already been interviewed by the commission.

A number of corruption allegations at Harare City are being exposed including illegal allocation of land to land barrons and abuse of money from council rented properties.

Harare City Town Clerk Hossiah Chisango, who was also probed by the commission, is currently being detained together with several council officials over corruption allegations involving millions of ratepayers money.