Gweru based property developer, Smelly Dube, has been acquitted of multiple fraud charges involving the sale of State land that she was facing, Business Times can report.
The businesswoman was in March last year arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly conniving with former Midlands Province governor Jason Machaya to illegally sell state land.
The lawyers representing Dube, Nyamundanda and Mutimudye Legal Practitioners, yesterday said the State declined to prosecute Dube’s case for lack of evidence against the accused.
“It is with great pleasure to notify the members of the public that our client (Smelly) Dube who was arrested and charged with three counts of fraud and alternatively charged with conspiracy to criminal abuse of duty has been exonerated after all charges were dropped. Justice has seen to be done as there was patently no reasonable suspicion that any offence had been committed,” part of the statement signed by MacPatrick Zinyakatira of Nyamundanda and Zinyakatira reads.
Dube, who is the CEO of River Valley Group, said she was happy to be exonerated of the charges and that “justice has prevailed”
“I am very happy that justice has prevailed in this case and it puts to rest any speculations and accusations that were being levelled against me. The courts have exonerated me and this is a testimony that I’m innocent of the wrong I was being accused of,” she told Business Times.
She added: “I pride myself in my philanthropic work and will continue my efforts to help the needy and the vulnerable in society.”
Dube’s company developed and sold stands in Hartfordshire Phase 1 and 2 as well as Subdivision 4 of Gwelo Small Holdings (Woodlands Phase 1 and 2) in Gweru. The company also has residential properties in Shurugwi and Bulawayo.