by Innocent Mujeri
Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-A) Councillor for Nketa Ward in Bulawayo, Mzama Dube, is up in arms with residents for swindling them money after promising to facilitate residential stands for them, the Harare Post can report.
Residents lost thousands of United States dollars after being hoodwinked by Dube to pay for non-existent stands. It is alleged that a total of US$ 95 000.00 was paid to Dube for residential stands in different parts of Bulawayo but he began to be evasive after receiving the money.
Some of the deals date back to 2016 with the residents claiming the councillor has not been forthcoming despite being paid.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) communications officer Kelebone Khabo revealed to this publication that about six residents from Ward 25 have since approached their association to register their complaints.
“Residents approached us and they were angry at the councillor whom they accused of duping them money since 2016,” Khabo said.
Khabo said Dube was also accused by some residence for taking groceries from their shops on credit and not paying back. If asked to pay back, Dube would resort to threats and this has brought fear to the residents of Nketa.
Another source who preferred anonymity told this publication that Dube had the audacity to dupe even churches.
“One church (name withheld) approached the BPRA and complained that the councillor duped them of US$300 in 2016 after he had promised to facilitate a church stand for them. No receipt was however given during the deal and nothing has come out of the deal,” said the source.
The Harare Post has learnt, Dube’s conduct is not a new phenomenon in MDC-A. In Marondera that party’s councillors were also accused in, July 2019, for duping residents thousands of dollars after promising them to facilitate residential stands in Hunyani Timberlands. Theft and corruption is in the DNA of MDC-A councillors and this phenomenon can only be corrected in 2023 after they have been voted out of power.
