Instead of Makunde showing up at the courts, the local authority sent the Chamber Secretary, Pricilla Vengesai and a legal representative from Matsikidze and Mucheche Legal Practitioners.
Scores of Chitungwiza residents had thronged the Magistrates’ Court to follow the trial.
Makunde is accused of ordering the demolition of some 68 houses and business buildings last September without a court order as required at law.
The demolitions were carried out regardless of a court ruling made by Provincial Magistrate, Marehwanazvo Gofa, on April 24, 2014 in favour of residents.
Gofa ruled that the demolitions were unconstitutional and had to be stopped.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust reported Makunde as the suspect and police opened a docket RRB2193402 against him.
Chitungwiza has threatened to demolish over 28 000 houses in the town as it regards them as illegal.
Some of the houses have since been demolished in two separate occasions.
Post published in: News