A HARARE private property developer Bright Ncube has clashed with several prospective home owners in Westlea suburb in a suspected case of double dipping.
Report by Kupakwashe Makonye
Last week, Ncube, who owns Bradha Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, courted the ire of 19 home owners after he demolished two houses, accusing the owners of not following laid-down construction procedures.
The owners, however, accused Ncube of double dipping, claiming he sold each of the stands to more than one buyer.
Ncube on Tuesday ordered the demolition of two houses belonging to Omega Mugwagwa and one unidentified person.
The owners argued that the demolitions were illegal as they paid the full costs of the stands and adhered to council building requirements.
When NewsDay visited Westlea last week two houses had been demolished with one of the owners Mugwagwa describing the demolishing as illegal.
“Initially these stands were issued out in 2003 and I bought my stand in 2007 during the Zimdollar era. Ncube had not developed the area,” Mugwagwa said.
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“This meant the stands were to be taken from the land developer by the city council as he was issued the stands by the city council.”
He alleged that the stands at the centre of controversy were allegedly resold by Ncube after the Zimdollar era.
“I met several people saying they had bought my stand of which I told Ncube who quickly rubbished the reports. The matter is in court, but I am surprised that my house was destroyed,” Mugwagwa said.
“The issue is both fraudulent and criminal as dockets where opened at Malbereign Police Station under RRB numbers 1638382 and 1638384. The Retired Major (Ncube) abused his powers as the destructions where being supervised by uniformed soldiers to intimidate the poor home owners.”
However, Ncube denied that the stands had been resold, but accused the owners of not complying with the council’s building requirements. “The city council has its criteria that it follows when people acquire stands and people have to comply with these demands. If they do not do that there are measures that are taken. There are 19 more houses to be demolished,” Ncube said.
