GOVERNMENT has moved in to address the wrangle between Marondera Town Council and residents, over council’s failure to allocate residential stands paid for in 2015.
by JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Recently, homeseekers who parted with $1 500 for the stands, threatened to hold a demonstration at council chambers, in a bid to force the local authority to act.
NewsDay is reliably informed that Mashonaland East provincial affairs minister David Musabayana recently summoned councillors at his offices to discuss the matter.
Musabayana told NewsDay the stands issue has been resolved and that the ground breaking ceremony will be held in three weeks.
“The matter was resolved and the land is there for the allocation of stands. All is in place and a ground breaking ceremony will be held in three weeks’ time. Council did not abuse the money and those who purchased the stands will get the residential stands,” he said.
The residents were told to buy the stands during a Zanu PF by-election campaign by Lawrence Katsiru, who took over the Marondera Central parliamentary seat, following the ousting of Ray Kaukonde in 2014.
However, it later emerged that the land targeted in Elmswood belonged to Swandev, a company owned by Zanu PF councillor Kennedy Muraicho.
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Muraicho was suspended by former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere over the land issue.
Meanwhile Muraicho was recently reinstated into the council, as both Zanu PF and government are reported to be seeking to settle the matter amicably with him.
Muraicho confirmed that he is back in council.
During a full council meeting held last month, councillors revealed that the people were not happy about how council was delaying to allocate the promised stands, with some threatening to illegally allocate themselves.
It came out in the meeting that part of the money paid for the stands was used to pay salaries for council workers.
