News / National
Chombo reported to Mugabe over scandalous land dealings, under investigation
23 May 2014 at 08:24hrs | Views
LOCAL Government minister Ignatius Chombo has been reported to President Robert Mugabe over alleged scandalous land dealings in which he is accused of selling state land, The Zimbabwe Independent can reveal.
Chombo is also accused of fraudulently acquiring stand number 61 of Helensvale (also known as stand 61 of Glen Lorne) which measures 193 716 square metres and another piece of council land, subdivision K of Nthaba, which he allegedly sold to a third party without paying for it.
Documents in possession of the Zimbabwe Independent reveal that Cynthia Maadza a war veteran and employee in the President's Office, reported Chombo to Mugabe after she was asked to leave her farm, lot J of Borrowdale, which she alleged Chombo had sold.
Maadza was allocated the piece of land in 2003 as stated by her offer letter: "You are offered subdivision 1 of lot J of Borrowdale in Goromonzi district for agricultural purposes", dated November 10 2003.
However Chombo is alleged to have offered the piece of land to a company owned by Cephas Msipa (son to former Midlands governor Cephas Msipa) and Ozias Bvute, Crowhill (Pvt) ltd.
In his letter to the Crowhill manager identified as T Hlongwane dated July 9 2008, Chombo wrote: "The ministry supports your proposal to embark on a housing project at lot J of Borrowdale Estate Township in partnership with West Properties (Pvt) Ltd."
"By copy of this letter the department of physical planning and Goromonzi Rural District council are advised to facilitate implementation of the project," reads part of the letter.
In an interview with this paper on Thursday Maadza said she reported Chombo to the President because there is no way he can sell state land which was gazetted and allocated to a fellow Zimbabwean.
"On September 2 2011 I met with the President who instructed (Minister of State for Security Didymus) Mutasa that this issue must be resolved immediately but last week on Tuesday, Chombo instructed the messenger of court to evict my family and employees," Maadza said.
On August 9 2013 the principal private secretary to the president, Lawrence Kamwi, also wrote to Mutasa asking him to resolve the issue.
"Allow me to refer for your assistance the documents from Ms Cynthia Maadza attached herewith. You may recall sir that this is a matter that was brought to His Excellency's attention in 2011 and I believe that the president gave strict instructions for the matter to find a solution," reads the letter.
In an interview with this paper on Wednesday then acting mayor Charity Bango said she reported the case to CID as resolved by the council after a special committee investigation found some irregularities in the land deals involving Chombo.
"I acted in my capacity as acting mayor but we expected the mayor (at the time Muchadei Masunda) to carry on with the report when he returned from leave," Bango said.
Chombo is also accused of fraudulently acquiring stand number 61 of Helensvale (also known as stand 61 of Glen Lorne) which measures 193 716 square metres and another piece of council land, subdivision K of Nthaba, which he allegedly sold to a third party without paying for it.
Documents in possession of the Zimbabwe Independent reveal that Cynthia Maadza a war veteran and employee in the President's Office, reported Chombo to Mugabe after she was asked to leave her farm, lot J of Borrowdale, which she alleged Chombo had sold.
Maadza was allocated the piece of land in 2003 as stated by her offer letter: "You are offered subdivision 1 of lot J of Borrowdale in Goromonzi district for agricultural purposes", dated November 10 2003.
However Chombo is alleged to have offered the piece of land to a company owned by Cephas Msipa (son to former Midlands governor Cephas Msipa) and Ozias Bvute, Crowhill (Pvt) ltd.
In his letter to the Crowhill manager identified as T Hlongwane dated July 9 2008, Chombo wrote: "The ministry supports your proposal to embark on a housing project at lot J of Borrowdale Estate Township in partnership with West Properties (Pvt) Ltd."
In an interview with this paper on Thursday Maadza said she reported Chombo to the President because there is no way he can sell state land which was gazetted and allocated to a fellow Zimbabwean.
"On September 2 2011 I met with the President who instructed (Minister of State for Security Didymus) Mutasa that this issue must be resolved immediately but last week on Tuesday, Chombo instructed the messenger of court to evict my family and employees," Maadza said.
On August 9 2013 the principal private secretary to the president, Lawrence Kamwi, also wrote to Mutasa asking him to resolve the issue.
"Allow me to refer for your assistance the documents from Ms Cynthia Maadza attached herewith. You may recall sir that this is a matter that was brought to His Excellency's attention in 2011 and I believe that the president gave strict instructions for the matter to find a solution," reads the letter.
In an interview with this paper on Wednesday then acting mayor Charity Bango said she reported the case to CID as resolved by the council after a special committee investigation found some irregularities in the land deals involving Chombo.
"I acted in my capacity as acting mayor but we expected the mayor (at the time Muchadei Masunda) to carry on with the report when he returned from leave," Bango said.
Source - independent