Councillors and residents who spoke to The Zimbabwean on condition of anonymity said Chombo was using his muscle to rescind council resolutions and causing divisions within Zanu (PF). “It is clear that Chombo is against this MDC dominated council and would do anything to discredit it. Last year council resolved to venture into a business partnership with Stream Walk Arcade to build a hotel using its stand 19713 STL.
“But Chombo wrote to the Mayor directing him to forego the joint venture and sell direct to Stream Walk Arcade,” explained the councillor.
The councillor alleged that Chombo was using a former soccer manager as a front to get the land. “Chombo thinks we are not aware that he has interests in the deal,” he said. Research conducted by this newspaper at the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property revealed that stand 19713 STL belongs solely to the City of Harare.
According to latest Council Business Committee’s minutes, councillors came down hard on Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda to contest partisan directives imposed by Chombo. Another councillor who spoke off record revealed that last year council resolved to grant a consortium of five housing cooperatives 292 residential stands after satisfying the local authority’s requirements. The consortium is composed of Teachers’ Comfort, Varombo, Mutasa, Legus and Farai Housing Cooperatives. Mushamukuru Housing Cooperative had applied for 100 stands, Formula 1 applied for 19 and New Castle never applied, said the councillor.
“To our surprise Chombo on 8 May wrote a directive reversing the resolution of granting the five housing cooperatives despite them having gone through normal procedures saying we should find them another piece of land,” revealed the councillor.
“Mushamukuru, New Castle and Formula 1 Housing Cooperatives are just applicants who failed to meet council requirements and have since forcefully invaded the stands and built their houses without proper papers or authority from council,” he added. One of the leaders of the consortium of housing cooperative which got council’s approval said Chombo is dividing Zanu (PF). “Chombo is actually destroying the party in Tabudirira District of Budiriro ahead of elections. All these housing cooperatives are led by Zanu (PF). Instead of supporting those who have followed the channel, Chombo is supporting invaders of land and labelling the rest MDC affiliates,” said the disgruntled leader.
When contacted for comment Chombo switched off his mobile in the middle of the conversation when he was asked about the Budiriro land scam.
Post published in: News