A 500 hectare piece of land was allegedly grabbed by the minister, who is understood to be in partnership with Shangani Holdings – a company owned by Boniface Musara. The land belongs to Chiredzi rural district council and would be worth $1 million if sold to private developers at market rates.
Masara efforts to be installed as a chief in Masvingo east hit a brick wall this year when some members of his family and chief Denies Chikawanda filed an urgent high court application to stop the event on the eve of the installation. The high court granted the order and the case is now waiting to be heard.
Mavhaire defied the court order and installed Musara as chief, claiming that he was just acting on the president’s behalf.
According to highly placed sources, several chiefs are part of the project that will see over 1,000 low density housing units being constructed between Triangle and Chiredzi. The council’s chief executive, Isaac Matsilele, confirmed the housing project but refused to give details.
Musara confirmed that his company Shangani Holdings was involved in the project, but said he had not been paid anything and was just facilitating the project.
Mavhaire confirmed that he was part of the scheme but could not say how much he bought the land for. “I am assisting people to get houses in Chiredzi and how that land was acquired or obtained is not your business,” he said before switching off his mobile phone.
Chiredzi residents have called for a thorough investigation and have asked Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo to intervene.
Post published in: News