Appearing
before
the
Presidential
Commission
of
Inquiry,
appointed
by
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
in
May
2024
to
investigate
corruption
and
mismanagement
within
the
Harare
City
Council,
Director
of
Housing
Edmore
Nhekairo
raised
concerns
about
the
process
behind
the
construction
of
Mafume’s
home.
Nhekairo
claimed
that
the
renovation
was
carried
out
without
applying
for
a
change
of
use,
a
necessary
procedure
when
altering
the
purpose
of
a
property.
During
a
hearing
led
by
Justice
Maphios
Cheda,
Mafume
presented
a
building
plan
for
his
home,
which
was
scrutinized
by
evidence
leader
Tapiwa
Godzi.
Questions
were
raised
regarding
the
authenticity
of
the
plan,
with
some
suggesting
it
might
have
been
fabricated.
According
to NewZimbabwe.com,
Mafume
admitted
that
he
had
not
applied
for
a
change
of
use
from
the
council,
a
requirement
when
converting
a
property’s
designation.
He
argued,
however,
that
such
an
application
could
be
submitted
at
a
later
stage,
once
the
building
was
completed.
Mafume
said:
When
you
want
to
turn
it
into
a
boarding
house
you
then
apply
for
the
change
of
use.
Normally
people
apply
as
they
are
building.
You
can
start
by
building.
You
can
use
the
premise
for
a
living
(if
not
approved).
Mafume
said
the
facility
will
be
used
as
accommodation
for
students
from
the
Harare
Institute
of
Technology
(HIT)
once
completed.
However,
Nhekairo
argued
that
the
failure
to
apply
for
a
change
of
use
was
a
clear
violation
of
City
Council
by-laws.
He
also
said
according
to
council
regulations,
one
is
required
to
pay
application
fees
for
plan
approvals,
and
development
fees,
and
obtain
official
approval
before
undertaking
any
project.
Said
Nhekairo:
It
is
the
application
that
must
be
tendered
first
with
council.
You
apply
to
the
Department
of
Planning…
The
circulation
to
the
district
officer,
the
councillor
to
ZESA
and
other
utility
providers.
All
those
must
comment
on
that
application.
If
the
application
is
favourable
then
it
will
be
presented
to
the
committee.If
it
is
rejected,
you
cannot
build.
It
is
not
proper
(to
build
before
application).
It
is
an
illegal
development.
If
that
illegal
development
has
occurred
someone
is
given
48
hour
notice
to
ensure
the
illegality
is
corrected.
You
have
to
dismantle
the
property
so
that
you
can
salvage
the
salvageable
materials.