The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) will soon send investigators to Mutare City Council to probe an alleged cocktail of stand scandals involving city fathers at the Civic Centre.
In an interview this week, Zacc chairperson, Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said the commission has received several reports of corrupt dealings of stands involving councillors.
“We have received numerous complaints and leads over corrupt stands deals at the City of Mutare. Sitting councillors are implicated in the scandals,” she said.
“In the coming weeks, after we have put the necessary paperwork in order, we will deploy our investigators to the local authority and look into the allegations being levelled on the city fathers. Our team will gather evidence and look for documentation to substantiate the claims.
“The commission will then use the evidence obtained to prosecute those found wanting. Those with relevant information concerning this matter must come forward and provide us with leads so that we get to the bottom of what is really taking place,” she said.
Justice Matanda-Moyo could not divulge finer details of the allegations being levelled against the councillors as she said this would compromise investigations. She, however, said the allegations border around the unprocedural parcelling out of stands in the eastern border city.
Over the years, residents in the city and stakeholder associations have been complaining of illegal stand deals, with councillors accused of using their influence to acquire several stands for resale at inflated rates.
Some local authorities have been abusing Circular Minute Number 1 dated February 17, 2016, which states that a councillor may be allocated a single residential stand within their ward to construct a house so that they can live in a dignified manner. The circular further states that the stand may be sold to the councillor at a discount of 40 percent of the normal value.
But some city fathers are alleged to have acquired several stands. However, in a recent interview, Mutare Mayor, Councillor Blessing Tandi absolved the city fathers and said no one has been looting the council land.
“We received a circular from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works on the issue of exit packages and stands for councillors. The circular is very clear as it speaks to residential stands offered to a new time councillor for decent accommodation. This stand is given at 40 percent discount and if that councillor needs a commercial stand in the city, he or she gets it at 100 percent of the cost, just like any other resident.
“No one is double dipping, stands are being allocated to those who never benefited from the scheme. In fact as the Mayor, I haven’t received the stand I was supposed to receive during my first term of office. We are prioritising residents who are on the waiting list.
“On the exit packages, there are no such pecks for councillors, including the Mayor,” he said.
