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Chombo embroiled in messy land scam . . . again
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
September 12, 2012

The Minister of Local Government Rural and Urban Development, Dr I. Chombo's name has been dragged to the courts following a USD4 million fraud case which boarders around the issue of stolen land the ZimDaily has reported again. Justice Zvandasara, Tichaona Suruware and Blessing Sigareta are being accused of allegedly grabbing 84 000 hectares of land which is also said to be belonging to one Nyasha Chikwinya who is also said to be a Zanu PF Central member in another showdown which is exposing the serious infighting that is happening in the shaky former ruling party. It is alleged that the trio were illegally distributing land using their unregistered housing cooperative to innocent members of the public in Hatcliff. ZANU PF district Chairman, Mr Misheck Mangwende who was testifying for the state argued that the trio confirmed that they had the blessing of Minister Chombo who was the final decision maker in terms of land allocation and when that was said there was no need to question those from above [i.e. the Minister]. Zvandasara who resides at plot 7, Weston Glen Forest claimed that he was closely linked to the Minister and that what he was doing was above board despite the fact that 820 witnesses are lined up to testify against him.

This disturbing story comes against a background of land scams involving the Minister. In 2010, it is also alleged that Minister Chombo was found guilty of parceling out stands and houses unproceduraly with most of these benefitting his close political allies according to the land audit report released by the audit committee led by suspended Councilor, Warship Dumba. The report alleged that the Minister owned land which was equal to the size of 20 football pitches. Today, the housing waiting list is now pregnant with more than 1.2million people on the waiting list and these scandals expose the level of corruption that has bedeviled our local Government system in Zimbabwe. It now remains a pipe dream for many Zimbabweans that one day they will own a house whilst a very few 'Big Men' like Chombo have primitively and unashamedly accumulated the land which should go towards benefiting the ordinary Zimbabwean.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) reiterates its call for Harare city council to fast track the long awaited second round of the land audit. The land audit will be in the interest of everyone including those who were previously implicated to cleanse themselves. The housing department should strive to clear the waiting list for those looking for land through developing more land under the banner of council and not let bogus land developers rule the roost for many have fallen victim to these as in the case which we have just reported.

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