Former Minister in court over alleged property scam

Former Local Government, Public Works & National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo has appeared in court on allegations of illegally parcelling out state land between 2000 and 2015. Appearing before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje, he is charged with fraud and five counts of criminal abuse of office. The Herald reports that he was not asked to plead. The prosecution states that he invited potential buyers to deposit funds into his Ignatius Chombo Housing Co-operative Agribank account. He allegedly used his influence to allocate himself 125 stands in Haydon Park and Harare.

Full report in The Herald (subscription needed)