Chronicle EditorIncrease Gumbo in Mwenezi
Mwenezi district administrator Ms Rosemary Chingwe has said council will repossess all undeveloped land in the district. There are reports that some politicians are against the council move ahead of 2018 harmonised elections. The move comes after council decided to repossess undeveloped stands which were availed to residents in 2014 to 2016. Beneficiaries were also not paying rates and tariffs for the stands. Speaking during a finance committee meeting held at Neshuro boardroom recently, Ms Chingwe said council would not rescind its decision.
“We know you are acting in a politician’s view, but as council we want development. Can you imagine a person allocated a stand in 2014 and is still at foundation level? Let alone, that person hasn’t paid anything to council. How can we develop? Maybe that money we expect from the beneficiaries would have taken council to a certain level,” she said.
Council is targeting at repossessing more than 1 000 stands in areas like Lundi, Rutenga and Neshuro from people who failed to develop and settle their debts. She said council was aware that some councillors were campaigning using the stands issue.
“There are some individuals who are threatening us saying they will take the matter to court, let them go, they will never win the case,” Ms Chingwe said.
Mwenezi Rural District Council chief executive Mr Albert Chivanga criticised prominent business people who are failing to settle their debts with council, but were asking for more land.
“We have prominent business people who still owe council thousands of dollars which would have assisted council execute its mandate,” he said.
Online Reporter