Staff Reporter
A major scandal has erupted in Harare’s City Council amid accusations that the opposition, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), manipulated the 2023 general elections through a fraudulent land regularization scheme.
Allegations surfaced during a Commission of Inquiry hearing, with the council being accused of fast-tracking land deals to sway voters ahead of the August polls.
The inquiry revealed that over 300 illegal housing cooperatives received land regularization deals from the CCC-led council. These cooperatives had been operating unlawfully on city land, but in the lead-up to the elections, the council allegedly hurried the regularization process, raising suspicions of vote-buying.
The situation escalated further when it was disclosed that CCC councilors had also pushed for the regularization of an additional 24 settlements, encompassing 5,066 housing stands. Critics argue that this was a deliberate attempt to secure votes from residents desperate for housing security.
Harare Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango, who testified during the hearing, acknowledged the council’s involvement in the regularization of these illegal settlements.
However, he defended the council’s actions claiming they were part of a larger strategy to alleviate the city’s housing crisis.
"We acted to address a critical need for housing, not to influence the elections," Chisango stated.
Nevertheless, the timing of these decisions so close to the elections has fueled suspicions of ulterior motives.
Political analyst Muthelusi Moyo described the scandal as indicative of deeper governance issues within the CCC leadership.
"This situation reveals a troubling pattern where political survival takes precedence over public trust.
“The inquiry has exposed the broader consequences of the council’s actions and the unplanned regularization of illegal settlements has overwhelmed Harare’s infrastructure, particularly water, sanitation, and roads," Moyo noted.
Moyo also expressed concern over the safety and environmental implications of regularizing settlements in areas not designed for residential use.
"These areas were never intended for the construction of houses, and the council’s decision to approve them poses serious risks to both residents and the environment," he warned.
As the Commission of Inquiry continues its investigation, there are growing calls for transparency and accountability from the CCC-led council. Many are demanding a comprehensive audit of the land regularization deals, with suggestions that officials involved in vote-buying should face legal consequences.
The unfolding scandal has cast a dark cloud over Harare’s governance, raising serious questions about the integrity of local leadership as the 2023 elections approached. While the full extent of the corruption remains under investigation, the allegations have severely shaken public confidence in the city’s administration.
