HUNDREDS of Zanu PF supporters belonging to different housing co-operatives at Retreat Township in Harare South yesterday staged a demonstration against their MP Shadreck Mashayamombe accusing him of barring a developer they had secured to develop their residential stands under unclear circumstances.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
A member of the supervisory committee in the area Gideon Dzitiro said they suspected Mashayamombe wanted to dip his fingers into the coffers after he ordered them to pay subscription fees through him.
The affected housing co-operatives included Chimoio, Lakeview, Samora Machel, Humble, Pachedu, Magamba, Vadzidzi vaJesu, Hubert Nyanhongo, Masango and 21st Century which have a combined membership of 7 000. They had contracted a developer identified as Datco to develop the residential stands.
But the MP also instructed them to pay “protection fees” that went directly into his pocket so that they would be protected should anyone want to evict them from the property.
“The developer had started work three days ago and had already started digging trenches for the water and sewer pipes and cleared the road, but he was stopped by the MP,” Dzitiro said.
“The MP wanted to be given the money directly, through his campaign manager Anthony Muchato . . . but people had started resisting, he is now using Muchato.”
Another official Eddie Ringwa said they were disappointed that after voting him into office, he was no longer pushing for the interests of the electorate. He said residents have staged several demonstrations at the Zanu PF Headquarters and written over 40 petitions against the legislator.
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“Each cooperative has been paying $300 per month and he would take a certain percentage which would go into his pocket,” he said.
In April, Mashayamombe was embroiled in another nasty land wrangle with home seekers in Amsterdam Farm which was gazetted for Zanu PF youths in July last year.
Mashayamombe could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Last month, Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo castigated party legislators involved in shady land deals under the guise of the party.
