MDC launches investigations into stands scandal

THE MDC has set up a team to investigate allegations that some Marondera Town councillors are involved in a massive stands scandal.

The team, led by a provincial member from Chihota — a Nyaguse, interviewed a number of people among them councillors, Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu, Marondera district party members and officials from the Marondera Residents Association (Mara).

Investigations were prompted by allegations that some councillors are working under the banner of Mara to swindle desperate homeseekers their money promising them residential stands in council's private land at Hunyani Timberlands.

Mara confirmed that its members would invade the said land despite disapproval from council. The MDC aligned association however, denied collecting money from homeseekers saying they will allocate themselves stands without paying any cent to the municipality.

Marondera mayor Chengetai Murowa yesterday confirmed that the opposition party sent a team to investigate the issue of land, but he refused to divulge details.

"It is true, there was a team in Marondera that interviewed some people. They went back after some interviews and they are yet to conclude the process," Murowa said.

One of the interviewees, Matewu said: "I was not interviewed, but I was asked about the issues that you wrote in the Press."

This paper recently reported the looming stands disaster in Marondera where MDC officials are about to allocate themselves land at Hunyani Timberlands. This paper is reliably informed that Mara officials are in the process of pegging the stands despite it being illegal.

Recently, Mara officials held a meeting in Cherima where they told their members that there is no going back on invading Hunyani Timberlands.