MUTARE City Council has expressed concern over alleged underhand dealings in the Gimboki South Housing Scheme that has seen the project moving at snail’s pace.
KENNETH NYANGANI,OWN CORRESPONDENT
In his arbitration report following complaints by members of the housing scheme, town clerk Obert Muzawazi decried the slow pace of development given the payment of monthly subscription fees by members.
“Only one section of the three sections was almost completed, by the time of arbitration, leaving more than two-thirds of beneficiaries stranded unaware of their fate in the project,” read part of the report submitted last Friday.
“The area of financial management was perhaps the weakest or the most mismanaged aspect of the project implementation process. It is actually feared that that the project beneficiaries may have been prejudiced of millions of dollars through underhand dealings, corruption and outright theft.
“Many complaints were received by council as the project members registered their displeasure at both the organisation and lack of communication between the project beneficiaries and its leadership.”
In 2010, the local authority signed an agreement with Mutare Housing Consortium in which the consortium was to service 5 200 high density residential stands in Gimboki South.
Some of the beneficiaries are drawn from National Railways of Zimbabwe, Mutare Housing Development Union, Zimbabwe Prison Services, Central Mechanical Equipment Department, National Housing Development Trust, Mutare Private Companies and Zimbabwe National Army.
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The consortium has approached a private developer, Dreamoss Investments to service the area, but the project has been moving slowly with allegations of embezzlement of funds.
“It is illegal for Dreamoss to charge interest on finances that have not been formally advanced to homeseekers. The payment of interest to Dreamoss should be stopped or referred to law enforcement Agencies for rectification,” Muzawazi added.
“The consortium must ensure that all finances entering and leaving the project are properly regulated and all accounts presented to the membership for ratification on a regular basis.”
