“We want to determine who owns the land in the city and how it is being used,” said James at a stakeholders meeting in the city.
He said the council was in the process of sourcing funding for the exercise that would be put to tender soon. The MDC-T led council announced its intention to carry out a land audit when it was elected into office, but the move was met with resistance from business people linked to Zanu (PF). The businessmen are reported to have clandestinely acquired vast tracts of land through dubious means. They were arguing that the move by the council would scare away potential investors.
However, James shot down this assertion, saying the project was not a ‘witch-hunt’ but was aimed at assisting council in the drafting of a master plan for the city
Stakeholders, including civic society organisations and Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Association, have come out in support of the initiative.
Post published in: News