MPs unearth housing scheme scandal

Committee on Public Works and National Housing visited the flats to interview beneficiaries as part of the parliamentary probe into the allocation of the flats.
MDCT legislator for Mutasa North Mr David Chimhini was the acting chairperson in the absence of Zanu-PF legislator for Gokwe Mapfungausti, Cde Lovemore Mupukuta.
In a sample of beneficiaries who were interviewed it emerged that most of the beneficiaries did not meet the set selection criteria.
For one to qualify, they were not supposed to own another property in Harare, 20 percent was supposed to be reserved for civil servants, while vulnerable groups were to be allocated 80 percent.
The beneficiaries were also supposed to have been on the housing waiting list of any local authority with the ability to pay the adequate deposit.
Civil servants were to pay US$3 600 deposit, while members of the public who fall under the vulnerable groups were to pay US$10 000.
However, it emerged that some civil servants were made to pay US$10 000 to benefit.
Some of the beneficiaries are an eight year old, who was born 04 August 2003 and the identity number is 632348080T18.
There is also 13-year-old who was born on 16 April 1998 identity number 632074700R75.
Tinashe Chipungu who was born on 01 January 1991 identity number 631423656K48 also bought a flat.
The three did not turn up for questioning with the two children said to have disappeared while one was represented by his father, Mr Stephen Zengeya.
Mr Zengeya told the committee that he registered the house in his son’s name for personal reasons.
He said his son was at school and could not make it for the fact finding mission.
Mr Zengeya who is employed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police said his son was not on any housing waiting list.
“I went to IDBZ (Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe) where I was given an offer form,” he said.
“All they wanted was money and owning a house is his constitutional right anyway. We only read of the procedures and selection criteria in the newspapers.”
He said he paid US$10 000 before being given a flat.
Mr Zengeya said he was building another house in Zimre Park for his other child.
It also emerged that IDBZ workers benefited with Ms Sharai Jandura and Ms Jane Gwiza confirming that they were never given conditions of sale except paying US$10 000.
Ms Jandura said she was not on any housing waiting list while Ms Gwiza said she owned two other properties in Greendale and Budiriro.
Civil servants who paid US$10 000 include Ms Moreblessing Mukusha who works at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development as accounting assistant.
Ms Mukusha said she was yet to be allocated a flat.
She said they had also been asked to bring US$500 administration fee, US$100 insurance fee and another US$6 whose purpose was not clarified.
Ms Mukusha said she was not on any housing waiting list.
Ms Mavis Johane who works at the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education as scholarships officer also paid US$10 000.
She said she was told that US$10 000 was the only requirement.
Some of the beneficiaries include Ms Joylyn Magobeya who benefited together with her two children Shingisai and Anesu Cheryl Ndoro.
The three did not turn up for the interviews.
Ms Susan Muzeti, an exdetainee is also on the beneficiaries list, but she said she did not sign any forms nor did she pay anything.
Also on the beneficiaries list was Nixon Bere who disappeared from the scene when his name was called out to appear before the legislators.
Some of the beneficiaries who do not meet the vulnerable group criteria include Mr Calvin Ganganiso who works for Harare Council, Mr Victor Shana who works at Harare Water and Mr Langton Nhamburo who is a pharmacist.
It also emerged that most of the civil servants who paid US$3 600 are yet to be allocated their flats while those in the private sector who paid US$10 000 have already been allocated.