THE MDC-T has called for the arrest of Zanu PF-aligned land barons as per the recommendations of a probe team set up to investigate illegal land parcelling.
MOSES MATENGA
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, MDC-T shadow minister for local government Sesel Zvidzai said there was need to act swiftly to effect investigations by the police and deal with land barons, among them Zanu PF Chitungwiza ward 25 councillor Fraderick Mabamba.
Mabamba is one of the many land barons exposed in the report by Local Government deputy minister Joel Biggie Matiza.
“Zanu PF should stop protecting the corrupt and people like Mabamba should be arrested and prosecuted,” Zvidzai said.
“No arrest or prosecution has been done and those implicated have close links to Zanu PF. That should be investigated now. Frustrated ratepayers are reluctant to pay their bills until the issues are addressed.”
According to the findings of the report, Mabamba — through his United We Stand Housing Co-operative — created stands, generated his own site plan and in the process duplicated stand numbers on land originally earmarked for churches, schools and other recreational facilities.
The report recommended that Mabamba be investigated with the possibility of laying criminal charges against him.
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Mabamba was last year suspended from council by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo for his involvement in the alleged illicit land allocations.
Zvidzai also called for the resignation of Chombo in “shame” for allegedly protecting Harare town clerk Tendai Mahachi.
“This is not the first time this has happened. In 2009, Mahachi was suspended, but Chombo had to put his full weight in defence of Mahachi,” he said.
Zvidzai said the MDC-T was strongly concerned by the continued delays in establishing an Act of Parliament that would result in the birth of metropolitan and provincial councils as enshrined in the country’s new Constitution.
