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Mpumelelo Nyoni Chronicle Reporter—
THE Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo, Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, has been sucked in the Cowdray Park stands scam in which thousands of civil servants could have been sold stands illegally. Cde Moyo was yesterday accused by lawyers representing city businessman, Johnson Sibanda, of working in cahoots with Mahlaba Housing Programme (MHP), trading as River Valley Properties which the lawyers are accusing of illegally selling stands to civil servants on Sibanda’s piece of land.
Last week, Sibanda, who said he is a nephew to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, filed an urgent chamber application, interdicting MHP’s owner, Gweru businesswoman Smelly Dube and her business partner Limukani Sibanda from selling the stands.
Cde Moyo and the Surveyor-General were also cited as respondents in the matter in which Sibanda is represented by prominent lawyer Josphat Tshuma.
In court yesterday, Tshuma alleged that Cde Moyo was given a map proving that River Valley Properties was selling stands on Sibanda’s piece of land illegally but she gave it to Sibanda’s rivals.
“My client, through his property company Gamange (Pvt) Ltd went to see the minister and told her that people were working on his land and selling his stands. He asked for an intervention and left a map showing the land in dispute.
However, no protection came and people still worked and operated on the stands. His son Ndodana Sibanda went to River Valley Properties offices and was shocked to see the very same map he left at the Minister’s office next to an advertisement of the stands being sold,” said Tshuma.
The lawyer further alleged that last week Cde Moyo intervened when police arrested private surveyors who were inspecting Sibanda’s land.
“As we speak, private surveyors hired by (MHP) are opening up pegs belonging to Gamange (Pvt) Ltd. Last week, police arrested those private surveyors who said they were instructed by River Valley Properties. The minister then called the police and said let us negotiate,” said Tshuma.
He said Cde Moyo issued an offer letter to Dube and her business partner but the document was not valid.
Contacted for comment, Cde Moyo said: “As you know I am cited as a respondent in this case. I was not there when the allegations were made, I can only comment if the High Court orders me to do so. As you know, I am a minister and I will only make a statement if I am ordered by the High Court, I cannot comment outside of that as it may compromise the case.”
Last week, Dube, who runs River Valley Properties, said through her lawyer Nelson Mashizha that the land in dispute belonged to the State and not to Sibanda.
Mashizha said Dube was given an offer letter by Cde Moyo through Okuhle Housing Consortium.
He said Dube’s company was therefore working on 670 hectares of State land and not Sibanda’s.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva yesterday ordered the Bulawayo City Council and the Surveyor-General to inspect the disputed land and submit affidavits on their findings.
He said he will make a ruling on the matter on June 13 based on the findings.
Online Reporter