Gweru City Council internal squabbles have opened a can of
worms after a councillor implicated in a stand selling scam fingered council
directors and former town clerk of allegedly looting stands and allotting
residential and business stands to their children and relatives.
Gweru City council has been rocked by a land scam that has
seen heads rolling following the release of the forensic audit which also
exposed an alleged fuel looting scam by the top management and the acting town
clerk.
The local authority has since invited ZACC to investigate
cases of alleged corruption and misuse of office by the management.
There is an ongoing tug-of-war between councillors and some
members of the management which has seen offensive and counter offensive ploys
between the factions in the corridors of the local authority much to the
detriment of service delivery.
Since the emerging divisions, there has been a series of
suspensions and mudslinging against a cabal perceived to be in contradiction of
the demands of a powerful clique of councillors.
Gweru Town Clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza has been suspended
for allegedly failing to bow down to the demands of the council while other top
managers and directors have been suspended while some have resigned after
succumbing to pressure.
One of the councillors, Cllr Charles Chirau of ward four
who has been at the forefront allegedly calling for the ouster of his perceived
enemies is now under spotlight after it emerged that he purchased two
residential stands in Senga Infill for his 13-day-old and five-year-old
children.
The juveniles have no contractual capacity according to the
council by-laws. Contractual capacity is the legal capability to form a
binding contract.
According to the documents in possession of this publication
Cllr Chirau bought stands number 6835 Senga Infill and 6841 Senga under his
children Leon Munashe, who was 13 days old on the day of purchase and Shaun who
was five.
Cllr Chirau confirmed purchasing the stands and also
exposed some of the council management who also bought stands for their
children and relatives during the stands looting spree.
“My children did buy those stands. If the law does not
allow juveniles to purchase stands the council must not have accepted the
money. It is not my fault it is the fault of the people who receipted the
money.
“I am not the only one who did so. For instance, one of the
stands I bought for my children is 6835 in Senga and number 6832 was bought by
(former housing Director) Mrs Jani’s child who is also underage, (former Town
Clerk) Daniel Matawu also gave stands to his children. So, it is not only me,”
he said.
Although he was not at the local authority then, Gweru City
Director of Housing and Community Services Mr Singirai Tigere said ideally, the
council advertises stands, and gives first priority to people on the housing
waiting list.
Mr Tigere said council does not enter into contracts with
juveniles and cannot sell stands to underaged people.
“Procedurally the acquisition of a residential stand is
that the engineering department surveys the land that is fit for that purpose,
calculate the costs and handover the stands to the housing department which
also includes tax and administrative fees to the cost of the stand.
“Then the local authority is supposed to advertise the
stands and conducts interviews with the people shortlisted on the waiting list
to see if they have the capacity to take up the offer,” he said.
Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe said he will look
into the matter once he gets full details.
Midlands Minister of state Senator Larry Mavima has also
expressed dismay at the state of affairs at Gweru City Council.
Updating Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on the
State of Affairs in the Midlands province, Minister Mavima said there was chaos
and mismanagement at Gweru City Council.
“Gweru City Council has become a major problem area whose
current environment is characterised by chaos, conflict, divisions and general
mismanagement. However, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is
currently seized with the matter and investigations have been carried out and
subsequent measures to implement recommendations are underway. Accordingly, you
will be advised on progress made on the matter,” he said.
Last week the Local Government ministry sent land auditors
to look into the utilisation of state land in Gweru by the local authority. Chronicle
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