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Gweru fails to service stands

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GWERU City Council has failed to service residential stands in the new Mkoba 21 suburb, despite that the stands were sold to residents from last year, it has emerged.

GWERU City Council has failed to service residential stands in the new Mkoba 21 suburb, despite that the stands were sold to residents from last year, it has emerged.

by Stephen Chadenga

The cash-strapped local authority availed the 6 000 stands to potential buyers early last year, but is failing to attract investors to service the area.

Chairperson of the commission running the affairs at council, Tsunga Mhangami, said the first batch of 2 000 stands should be ready for servicing by March this year, adding that the municipality would approach the Local Government ministry for help in servicing the stands.

He revealed that to date, there was no detailed drawing map of Mkoba 21 residential stands, an indication that the commission’s predecessors had not covered much ground in servicing the stands.

Gweru

“We envisage that the first 2 000 stands should be ready by March this year before we move to other stands,” Mhangami said during a visit by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere this week.

“We would approach your office (Local Government ministry) for assistance in servicing the stands.”

The development comes at a time an audit report at council revealed that the city lost more than $300 000 to a company which carried out a survey of the 6 497 stands in the proposed Mkoba 21 suburb.

The money, lost through mismanagement by council officials, could have been used in servicing part of the stands.

Council allegedly paid over $1,15 million to Terra Surveys Land Surveyors, instead of $785 524, 73, prejudicing the local authority of $365 028, 98.

“The council lost $365 028, 98 when it was advised to engage Terra Survey Land Surveyors without seeking competitive quotations,” a government audit carried out last year at Gweru City Council reveals.

“Survey fees are regulated in terms of the Survey Regulations Board Circular Number 1 of 2009 and in terms of this circular, Terra Surveys Land Surveyors fees were exorbitant.”