News / National
CCC candidate fined $50 000 for building on wetland
15 Mar 2022 at 01:32hrs | Views
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate for Harare's ward 41 in the March 26 council by-election, Kudzai Kadzombe, has been fined $50 000 by the Environmental Management Agency for building her house on a 4 000 square metre stand on a Marlborough wetland, after getting the stand in what residents say was a dubious council deal.
Kadzombe was ironically the chairperson of the Harare City Council's Environmental Management Committee before being recalled last year by the MDC-T and is now trying to get back on council as the Marlborough councillor.
She was fined after she was found to have grabbed the 4 000 square metre stand in a wetland for personal use but she denied this takeover of the stand was illegal saying it was rightfully given to her by council.
Stand 1875 of Marlborough Township was allegedly subdivided and allocated to Kadzombe despite numerous objections by the residents that it was in an ecologically sensitive area.
Kadzombe was found guilty by EMA of constructing a structure on a wetland, the stand where she is now residing and was ordered by EMA to pay a fine of $50 000 within seven days.
EMA also ordered her to desist from constructing any more structures or digging the area so she would not damage it further as it fell under ecologically sensitive land that must be protected.
Marlborough residents reported to EMA's provincial director that the former councillor had constructed her house without bothering to do an environmental impact assessment.
Kadzombe's house is said to be illegal amid allegations that no due council processes were followed such as change of land use.
Alleged land scams are contained in a confidential report compiled in January 2022 directed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe and Harare Metropolitan Province Minister Oliver Chidawu.
The report compiled by residents was part of a petition requesting investigations into the sale of stand 951 Marlborough Township to a local church by the City of Harare.
"The stand was subsequently changed to 4918 (church stand) and 4919 (primary school). We are requesting a thorough investigation into the matter.
"We are also requesting an investigation into the subdivision and allocation of stand 1875 Marlborough Township involving the former Councillor for Ward 41 (Marlborough) Kudzai Kadzombe during her term of office," reads the report.
According to the report, residents said they suspected proper procedures were not followed and other beneficiaries within the former councillors' circle may have unjustly enriched themselves.
"The stands in question are abutting properties. We the undersigned residents are therefore objecting to the allocation of stands in Marlborough involving a church and the former councillor Kudzai Kadzombe and request an urgent investigation into this matter.
"We have also attached site plans highlighting the stands involved which we have attached as Annexure A, B and C to this letter. Please note that 10 stands were created on stand 1875; one of them which now belongs to the former councillor," reads the report.
Kadzombe was ironically the chairperson of the Harare City Council's Environmental Management Committee before being recalled last year by the MDC-T and is now trying to get back on council as the Marlborough councillor.
She was fined after she was found to have grabbed the 4 000 square metre stand in a wetland for personal use but she denied this takeover of the stand was illegal saying it was rightfully given to her by council.
Stand 1875 of Marlborough Township was allegedly subdivided and allocated to Kadzombe despite numerous objections by the residents that it was in an ecologically sensitive area.
Kadzombe was found guilty by EMA of constructing a structure on a wetland, the stand where she is now residing and was ordered by EMA to pay a fine of $50 000 within seven days.
EMA also ordered her to desist from constructing any more structures or digging the area so she would not damage it further as it fell under ecologically sensitive land that must be protected.
Marlborough residents reported to EMA's provincial director that the former councillor had constructed her house without bothering to do an environmental impact assessment.
Alleged land scams are contained in a confidential report compiled in January 2022 directed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe and Harare Metropolitan Province Minister Oliver Chidawu.
The report compiled by residents was part of a petition requesting investigations into the sale of stand 951 Marlborough Township to a local church by the City of Harare.
"The stand was subsequently changed to 4918 (church stand) and 4919 (primary school). We are requesting a thorough investigation into the matter.
"We are also requesting an investigation into the subdivision and allocation of stand 1875 Marlborough Township involving the former Councillor for Ward 41 (Marlborough) Kudzai Kadzombe during her term of office," reads the report.
According to the report, residents said they suspected proper procedures were not followed and other beneficiaries within the former councillors' circle may have unjustly enriched themselves.
"The stands in question are abutting properties. We the undersigned residents are therefore objecting to the allocation of stands in Marlborough involving a church and the former councillor Kudzai Kadzombe and request an urgent investigation into this matter.
"We have also attached site plans highlighting the stands involved which we have attached as Annexure A, B and C to this letter. Please note that 10 stands were created on stand 1875; one of them which now belongs to the former councillor," reads the report.
Source - The Herald
