By Christopher Makaza
MDC Harare ward 4 councillor who is also Environmental Management Committee Chairperson Kudzai Kazombe in carhoots with fellow MDC councillors are allegedly involved in corrupt activities, regularising stands corruptly allocated to illegal settlers by MDC land barons.
Most of the stands were set aside for schools, clinics, churches and other developmental projects.
A Source within the council revealed that there were about 32 stands set aside by council of which 28 wanted to be regularised by Ministry of Local Government Public Works and National Housing. It is reported that Kazombe used his influence as EMC Chairperson to regularise the stands on the grounds that the houses built were up-to standard.
According to the source, owners of the controversial stands allegedly gave Kazombe some cash for their stands to be regularised. Kazombe allegedly shared the money with fellow councillors who supported his idea.
Kazombe and his team are allegedly working with the City Planner, Samuel Nyabiza who is assisting them to draw plans and identify vacant stands for occupation.
The corruption allegations come amidst failure by the MDC Councils nation-wide to provide basic services like water, waste management and maintenance of sewer services. The councils are instead spending time on self-enriching activities.
The deplorable state of affairs in Chitungwiza, where residential places have mushroomed everywhere, and in some instances, in riverbanks and under ZESA main lines, points to a failed management system by the MDC council that long relegated its mandate and is now focusing on corrupt and clandestine activities.
It is a fact that MDC land barons who also include the councillors have wreaked havoc in Chitungwiza since 2010, creating a parallel land authority that today still stands with its own architects, town planners building inspectors and housing officers.
Recently some MDC Alliance councillors in Marondera were reportedly illegally selling residential stands in Hunyani Timberlands to unsuspecting home-seekers. The councillors were reportedly collecting money from people, promising to give them residential stands in Hunyani Timberlands.
