CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU – Following the rot exposed by the City Of Gweru land audit, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Permanent Secretary Zvinechimwe Churu recently called for all councils to send documentation on how their estates accounts are operating.
The letter simply instructed that all councils should send print outs from the estates accounts of all persons for land acquired from council.
“In light of numerous, recent cases reported on and uncovered by investigations each council is hereby required to submit; a print out from the estates account of all persons paying for land acquired from council, a list of all stands, residential, commercial or industrial…
“…a list of all infill stands created since the swearing in of councilors and the beneficiaries of the stands created and a list of stands available in the council land bank,” reads the letter.
Mayor Josiah Makombe has often referred to the audit’s clause in response to allegations that suspensions are coming on partisan lines. He has also denied selling any land since they were voted into power.
The letter however comes at a time the City of Gweru has already suspended its estates and Valuations officer Gibson Chingwadza in response to the Land Audit recommendation that they ‘…take disciplinary measures on the Estates and Valuations officer.’
Chingwadza was suspended barely a year after the local authority had sent Town Clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza on suspension over supposed maladministration.
The council also recently confirmed calling the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the suspended officials and any other corruption case that might be affecting the local authority.