Govt will punish greedy councillors — Minister

officials who illegally acquire residential and commercial stands at the expense of residents.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo on Sunday said Government would not stand aloof while councillors form business entities at the expense of service delivery.
Government, he said, would wield the axe on corrupt councillors and take stern measures on those found on the wrong side of the law. The call comes after Gweru residents implored Minister Chombo to investigate the illegal allocations of stands by Mayor Tedious Chimombe and his deputy Clr Taurai Demo. The duo, together with Clr Lawrence Rutsvara are being accused of parceling out stands amongst themselves at discounted prices, flouting local authorities regulations in the process. Minister Chombo said he would dispatch a team immediately to investigate the trio.
“We are aware of the situation and my officers are going to get to the bottom of the matter. If ever they are found guilty we are going to reverse everything and punish them. Government does not tolerate public servants to go on a corruption rampage.
“Business entities are not allowed in local authorities and let me not hesitate to say that those found involved in the illegal activities would face appropriate action.
“The behaviour of the councillors is appalling and this must stop forthwith. It simply shows that they are not concerned about service delivery and are there to loot only,” Minister Chombo said. Government, the minister said, had given each councillor a residential stand at discounted price not commercial stands as claimed by Mayor Chimombe.
He said Government was not obliged to give councillors stands and this was simply a favour from the ministry.
“It is not a Government or a local authority obligation to reward them with stands. We just gave them as a mere favour but now they have taken it upon themselves to abuse that favour.
“We can withdraw this because there is nothing special about these councilors because those in the rural areas are getting nothing. We never directed anyone to give himself a discount whenever he feels like doing so. The law is clear on that and that is what should be followed,” he said.
He said urban councillors should be appreciative to what they were given. Minister Chombo said he suspected that most councillors did not understand the Urban Councils Act.