Chronicle Editor
Rejoyce Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has been urged to follow the city’s housing waiting list when allocating stands as cases of corruption have been noted, prejudicing home seekers.
This was said during a workshop on land rights and administration conducted by graft fighting watchdog, Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) in Bulawayo.
The corruption being practiced by some officials is said to have also resulted in some churches being granted land illegally.
Speaking during the workshop, the Executive Director of Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), Dr Rodrick Fayayo said the land corruption issue should be carefully investigated.
He said issuing of stands should be done the proper way where there is adherence to the waiting list.
Dr Fayayo said some people are getting stands illegally, resulting in double allocations.
A participant at the workshop, Mrs Monica Ncube said there must be fairness in the allocation of stands and land.
“Community participation in clearing out corruption in the distribution of land is important in that when people are united and working towards the same goal, illegal acts are exposed and change is implemented.
People who recently applied for the allocation of land are getting it while those who applied way back are having problems in being granted the land,” said Mrs Ncube.
She added that the problem of having people being on the waiting list for too long must be addressed.
The Head of Programmes for Transparency International Zimbabwe, Mr Nqobani Liberty Tshabangu encouraged the need that community members should be educated more about TIZ’s basic aims and approaches in dealing with corruption in land distribution.
“People ought to have a better understanding about all the terms, laws and policies regarding land allocation and not just knowledge about house stands,” said Mr Tshabangu. – @Reeky60245168
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