News / National
MDC-T council land audit exposes Zanu officials
06 Jun 2011 at 08:44hrs | Views
MDC-T council land audit in Marondera has just revealed that Marondera Municipality lost thousands of US dollars in revenue to Zanu (PF) officials and party supporters who benefitted from free residential and commercial stands sold by the Zanu (PF) local authority in 1998-1999.
The audit, expected to be made public at a full council meeting next month, was leaked to The Zimbabwean by sources within council management.
"The land audit team found that in some cases council land was given for free. No without was ever done to council, particularly land allocated in1998-1999. There are no records showing proof of payment," says the document.
The audit reveals that in a number of cases, stands allocated were only partially paid for in the worthless Zimbabwean dollar. Council has no proof that the following people paid for stands allocated to them: John Tazviona stand number 2817, Felix Mahwindo Jeche, J.L. Chidhakwa, K. Kundiona stand number 2849, Albert Shiriyapenga, Dongo Sawmill (52 Rufaro), NOC-ZIM (Lot 144), Zenda Fundikai (Lot 100), Lot 102, Chawafambira (Lot 101), P. Matiza (Lot 104). Owners of the following stands paid part payment in Zimbabwe dollar and have not settled the balance, now expected in US dollars: Stands 2814, 7946, 10138, 2767, 2774, 2769, 2770, 2768, 2858, 2101, 2726, 2822, 2224, 2347, 2825, 2848, 2829 and 2830, 2710, 135, 2822, 2825, 2777, 1691 and 1692. Those who paid nothing for allocated stands were Zanu (PF) activists.
The audit report continues: "Zanu (PF) officials such as Cleopas Kundiona and former mayor, Ralph Chimanikire, benefited from deliberate irregularities in the allocation of land. Council residential policy clearly states that one must not own multiple stands in the same residential zone, but Chimanikire was allocated various stands in Paradise Park, Ruzawe Park and Winston Park. Kundiona owns a commercial stand which is being developed but his wife was also allocated an industrial stand, which is not yet developed.
"The absence of a policy has resulted in unjustifiable allocation of extra pieces of land. For example, a client applies for 3.5 hectares of land and council gratuitously allocates 11,5 hectares.
"Some people were also allocated land despite not being on the council waiting list. The trend benefited those connected to council employees. There was also double allocation of stands like in the case of Chidhakwa and Salware who were allocated stand number 135. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and Herentals Group of Colleges were also allocated the same stand in the commercial area.
"Council land was also being allocated despite prominent obstacles such as the main sewer line in Cherutombo, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority power-lines in Rujeko and graves in Lower Paradise.
"The following stands were dangerously allocated at ZESA power-lines in Rujeko: Stands number 4257, 4258, 4259 and 1225 while the following are at Lower Paradise Graves, 2525, 2524, 2523,2522, 2521 and 2527. Others were allocated over the Cherutombo main sewer line.
"Against council policy stipulating that a stand should be developed within two years after being purchased, the following stands were not repossessed despite not being developed 10 years down the line: Stand numbers 2287, 3058, 2221, 3060, 2190, 2196, 2209, 2217, 2252, 2346 and 2219. Council should, according to its land policy, repossess hundreds other undeveloped stands."
The audit, expected to be made public at a full council meeting next month, was leaked to The Zimbabwean by sources within council management.
"The land audit team found that in some cases council land was given for free. No without was ever done to council, particularly land allocated in1998-1999. There are no records showing proof of payment," says the document.
The audit reveals that in a number of cases, stands allocated were only partially paid for in the worthless Zimbabwean dollar. Council has no proof that the following people paid for stands allocated to them: John Tazviona stand number 2817, Felix Mahwindo Jeche, J.L. Chidhakwa, K. Kundiona stand number 2849, Albert Shiriyapenga, Dongo Sawmill (52 Rufaro), NOC-ZIM (Lot 144), Zenda Fundikai (Lot 100), Lot 102, Chawafambira (Lot 101), P. Matiza (Lot 104). Owners of the following stands paid part payment in Zimbabwe dollar and have not settled the balance, now expected in US dollars: Stands 2814, 7946, 10138, 2767, 2774, 2769, 2770, 2768, 2858, 2101, 2726, 2822, 2224, 2347, 2825, 2848, 2829 and 2830, 2710, 135, 2822, 2825, 2777, 1691 and 1692. Those who paid nothing for allocated stands were Zanu (PF) activists.
The audit report continues: "Zanu (PF) officials such as Cleopas Kundiona and former mayor, Ralph Chimanikire, benefited from deliberate irregularities in the allocation of land. Council residential policy clearly states that one must not own multiple stands in the same residential zone, but Chimanikire was allocated various stands in Paradise Park, Ruzawe Park and Winston Park. Kundiona owns a commercial stand which is being developed but his wife was also allocated an industrial stand, which is not yet developed.
"The absence of a policy has resulted in unjustifiable allocation of extra pieces of land. For example, a client applies for 3.5 hectares of land and council gratuitously allocates 11,5 hectares.
"Some people were also allocated land despite not being on the council waiting list. The trend benefited those connected to council employees. There was also double allocation of stands like in the case of Chidhakwa and Salware who were allocated stand number 135. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and Herentals Group of Colleges were also allocated the same stand in the commercial area.
"Council land was also being allocated despite prominent obstacles such as the main sewer line in Cherutombo, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority power-lines in Rujeko and graves in Lower Paradise.
"The following stands were dangerously allocated at ZESA power-lines in Rujeko: Stands number 4257, 4258, 4259 and 1225 while the following are at Lower Paradise Graves, 2525, 2524, 2523,2522, 2521 and 2527. Others were allocated over the Cherutombo main sewer line.
"Against council policy stipulating that a stand should be developed within two years after being purchased, the following stands were not repossessed despite not being developed 10 years down the line: Stand numbers 2287, 3058, 2221, 3060, 2190, 2196, 2209, 2217, 2252, 2346 and 2219. Council should, according to its land policy, repossess hundreds other undeveloped stands."
Source - The Zimbabwean
