Karoi councillors in stands scandal

the MDC-T run council is making ordinary residents pay an average of US$1 000 per stand.
Karoi Town Council chairman Mr Casmell Pemhiwa (MDC-T) recently told residents at a meeting that there was nothing wrong, since everything was done above board with the approval of the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Ignatious Chombo.
“The Minister of Local Government is aware of the channels being implemented by my council in terms of allocation of residential and commercial stands and everything undertaken is above board. Hence it is not proper for anyone to challenge the status quo. To my knowledge there is no abuse of stands allocation by my councillors,’’ Mr Pemhiwa recently told irate residents.
For example, Clr Lavender Chiwaya bought business stand number 6270/3 in Chikangwe Township for US$12, through full council resolution 537/10. He was also allocated another infill 300-square-metre residential stand in the same location for US$72 (resolution 19/10/09). He is yet to get three other stands, already approved by the council.
Clr Jackson Mbonga bought a business stand (number 6270) in Chikangwe Township for US$13, a commercial stand in Chiedza for US$26 (resolution 291/09) and three other stands for unspecified amounts of money (resolutions 425/09 and 956/11).
Clr Abigail Usai bought a service stand in Chiedza for US$26 (resolution 223/09). She also bought two other stands (2972 and 778) for unspecified amounts, through council resolutions. She is yet to be given two more stands already approved by the council.
Clr James Manjinjiwa was allocated a 3 150sq-metre stand number 7894 (resolution 798/10) for US$787. He paid US$400. He was allocated stand 6270/5 for a tuckshop in Chikangwe for US$46, which he paid in full (resolution 723/10). Clr Manjinjiwa was also allocated three other stands (resolutions 341/09, 343,09 and 344/09).
Clr Naison Chigwende was allocated stand 6270/2 in Chikangwe (resolution 536/10) for US$16, which he paid. He was also allocated four industrial, commercial and low density residential stands (resolutions 348/09, 349/09 and 19-10-09).
Clr Elijah Masakure got a residential stand for US$72 but has not yet paid (resolution 19/10/09) and four other stands (resolutions 941/11, 336/09, 337/09 and 338/09).
Clr David Mutambirwa got five stands, the biggest being an industrial stand (804, 4 750sq-metres) for US$1 147, and a commercial CBD stand 7776 for US$72. He also got three other stands (resolutions 341/09, 864/10, 339/09 and 19/10/09).