media, Harare’s acting town clerk, Stanley Mungofa, said the council intended to sell a council house in Highlands suburb to Makwavarara at a cost of $13.750 billion (old currency).
However CHRA described the proposal as irregular and corrupt.
“We are urging residents to object to this corrupt practice because Makwavarara is not an employee of the Harare City Council”, said CHRA spokesman Precious Shumba.
By any virtue, said Shumba, the local authority has no right to sell the house to Makwavarara.
“Urban council statutes clearly state that all council houses shall be sold to sitting tenants and Makwavarara is not a tenant at Number 17 Nigel’s Lane in Highlands. The property is being occupied by the Mlambo family not Sekesai (Makwavarara)” said Shumba.
The CHRA official complained that the concerned property was undervalued by the council describing it as “daylight robbery to ratepayers”.
“We have realized that houses in that area cost not less than $20 billion (old currency) instead of what the council is asking for” said Shumba.
But the local authority says Harare residents have up to 13 September to agree or disagree with the council’s proposal in writing to the town clerk’s office as required under the Urban Councils Act.
Makwavarara also came under the microscope recently when she wanted to buy curtains worth $45 billion (old currency) for the mayoral mansion that she is occupying.
Meanwhile CHRA called on local government minister Ignatius Chombo to immediately fix dates for the election of councilors and the mayor of Harare adding that the commission has failed to deliver and does not have mandate of the majority.
“The Makwavarara commission has been in office for two years and it’s illegal under the Urban Councils Act for her commission to be still in office. We want elections for Harare now”, said CHRA chairperson Israel Mabhoo.
Under the Act, Chombo should have called for elections after the expiry of the commission’s term of office but the MDC accuses government of frustrating its opposition-led councils.
However Chombo remains adamant that the opposition led councils where he has appointed commissioners were failing to meet his expectations. The minister has appointed commissioners in Harare and Mutare where the MDC had trounced Zanu PF in council elections. He has harassed the elected mayor of Chitungwiza, Misheck Shoko, who term of office expired while he was on suspension.
Former Chegutu Mayor, Francis Blessing Dhlakama was also harassed by Chombo.
Post published in: News