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Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Chitungwiza residents have raised concern over the rampant haphazard and illegal allocation of stands.
Despite being the second largest town after Harare in population terms, it is lagging behind in terms of infrastructure.
Almost all vacant spaces around the town have been invaded to create residential and commercial stands.
Other structures, mostly in Seke, Riverside, Nyatsime, Zengeza and St Mary’s were built on land reserved for churches, schools, cemeteries, drainage systems, electricity pylons and water pipes.
Chitungwiza Residents’ Trust (Chitrest) board chairperson Mr Tinashe Kazuru said the city fathers, Town Clerk Dr George Makunde and his administration had failed to deal with the situation.
“We stand shocked at the recent rampant and unplanned creation of stands in Chitungwiza.
“This is happening under the nose of the Town Clerk, Mr Makunde, who is mandated to make sure our urban planning is orderly and compliant with the country’s laws,” he said.
“Our elected city fathers are conspicuous by their silence on this very serious matter,” he said.
Areas on which stands have been created include the open space at “C Junction”, the recently demolished Chikwanha/Zengeza 4 market, St Mary’s playing ground opposite Chigovanyika Shopping Centre, Chigovanyika carpark, corner Tilcor and Chitungwiza roads.”
He said they were reliably informed that the land barons are working in cahoots with council officials to create illegal stands.
“We are told land agents working with council authorities are on the ground identifying more open spaces for creation of these illegal stands which are sold on the black market at exorbitant prices and in disregard of the council waiting list.
“Our information and research team is on the ground to gather more facts which will be reported without fear or favour.
“As Chitrest we believe council should not be swallowed in these corrupt activities,” said Kazuru.
He said his organisation was going to engage the newly appointed Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on the matter and also called for the local authority to consider using the housing waiting list whenever there was allocation of stands on designated places.
In an interview, Chitungwiza public relations officer Mr Lovemore Meya said council has since stopped allocating stands.
“To arrest any flouting of the provisions of statutes governing State land management, council has suspended identification of open spaces for creation of stands, creation of new stands and production of any site plans.
“We have also suspended allocation of stands from any identified open spaces and issuance of offer letters for such spaces,” he said.
Council could not tell who was dishing out the stands in the open spaces although sources at the local authority said council officials were involved in the dealings.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter