News / National
Dr Chiyangwa to get $2m worth from the MDC-T led city council
27 Jan 2013 at 06:43hrs | Views
The Harare City Council has resolved to offer property mogul Dr Philip Chiyangwa land worth US$2 million to settle a long-standing dispute over a residential-industrial stand swap deal.
Earlier this month, the High Court granted Dr Chiyangwa a provisional order compelling council to transfer properties to one of the businessman's companies, Kilima Investments, or pay him US$2 million.
The local authority did not challenge the ruling, opting for the land transfer.
Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi last week revealed that Town House has already begun valuing the earmarked properties. He could not, however, immediately state their location or sizes.
"Chiyangwa and City of Harare agreed to swap pieces of land. He had an industrial stand while we had other bits (of land) for housing. We have taken a long time to swap. He gave us his land; we actually have the title deeds," he said.
"We now need to complete our process and then negotiate with him.
"The process is proceeding.
"Everything was at a standstill because we had suspended workers in the evaluation department. The piece of land that he gave us is valued at US$2 million.
"So we have to give him pieces of land of equivalent value not for us to give him money. The land has already been valued."
Dr Chiyangwa told The Sunday Mail that he wanted council to honour the land exchange agreement.
"The problem is very clear. People must understand that we are in business. Council has bad time management. They cannot choose their own time," he said.
"We entered into an agreement with them and the next moment, they made a U-turn. I paid their salaries. I bought refuse trucks for them and cars for their senior management."
In 2007, Dr Chiyangwa and the Harare City Council sealed a deal under which the former swapped a 16 000-hectare industrial stand for properties in several suburbs across the city.
Earlier this month, the High Court granted Dr Chiyangwa a provisional order compelling council to transfer properties to one of the businessman's companies, Kilima Investments, or pay him US$2 million.
The local authority did not challenge the ruling, opting for the land transfer.
Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi last week revealed that Town House has already begun valuing the earmarked properties. He could not, however, immediately state their location or sizes.
"Chiyangwa and City of Harare agreed to swap pieces of land. He had an industrial stand while we had other bits (of land) for housing. We have taken a long time to swap. He gave us his land; we actually have the title deeds," he said.
"We now need to complete our process and then negotiate with him.
"Everything was at a standstill because we had suspended workers in the evaluation department. The piece of land that he gave us is valued at US$2 million.
"So we have to give him pieces of land of equivalent value not for us to give him money. The land has already been valued."
Dr Chiyangwa told The Sunday Mail that he wanted council to honour the land exchange agreement.
"The problem is very clear. People must understand that we are in business. Council has bad time management. They cannot choose their own time," he said.
"We entered into an agreement with them and the next moment, they made a U-turn. I paid their salaries. I bought refuse trucks for them and cars for their senior management."
In 2007, Dr Chiyangwa and the Harare City Council sealed a deal under which the former swapped a 16 000-hectare industrial stand for properties in several suburbs across the city.
Source - SM
