By Christopher Makaza
Government will continue to work with the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) to stop corruption in urban local authorities on issues to do with land barons and is in the process of building cases against land barons for prosecution, a Government official has said.
Speaking during The Grill programme on Classic 263 in the capital yesterday on corruption in local authorities, Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Tafadzwa Muguti urged local authorities to find other sources of revenue other than selling land.
“We need a new breed of officials in the Province who are prepared to do whatever it takes to bring sanity, law and order. We will continue to work with ZACC to stop corruption in urban local authorities. We have names of all land barons and we are building cases for prosecution.
“All local authorities need to find new sources of revenue and not selling land. Municipality of Chitungwiza and Harare City Council have enough real estate to raise enough operating capital. Buildings, houses, bars and shops are being leased to cronies in local currency and sublet in US dollars and we will audit them,” said Muguti.
Muguti says that there were so many investigations being done on Harare province and all other land matters highlighting that arrests are getting complicated as evidence was being destroyed internally and most times politicised, revealing that he was attacked by some MDC- Alliance and some Zanu PF officials who are politicising his work.
He noted that some land barons work with some council officials and have access to every document, plans and records that might at any point disrupt their activities and that explains why documents that they sign as senior Government officials were leaking daily, compromising investigations and governance.
Muguti revealed that there are over 49 judgements that the Sheriff is going to enforce in the coming months.
“It’s important that people know the full list of demolitions to take place. Stop building on illegal land and stop criminals from selling land,” he said.
Muguti complained that the capital city is now driven by greedy and evil land criminals who are taking people’s money and in most cases victims actually defend the land barons as they believe are genuine despite the Government warning them.
“We are fighting an old and permanently established criminal syndicate for both space and land barons. People are paying US$10 daily for flee markets and this money is not going to Harare City Council but to individuals. Ask the people in Siyaso, Mbare, Glenview, Coca Cola who they pay to,” said Muguti.
Mr Muguti revealed that there was a direct plot to smear his name and those of all Ministers involved so that they don’t keep fighting the land barons.
“I personally have been targeted with fake news of stealing land so that I lose credibility. I am clean, i am serving my country and will see this through, like me or not,” said Muguti.
Mr Muguti urged online community especially those from the diaspora to support President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to bring law and order in local authorities.
