Chitungwiza Council Fails to Investigate Corrupt Land Deals
Mayor Mutoti says he fears that he may be fired by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo if he probes officials said to be involved in the corrupt acquisition of land
HARARE — Chitungwiza mayor Phillip Mutoti says his council is failing to investigate allegations of corruption leveled against some named council officials fearing reprisals from Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo. Mayor Mutoti told Studio 7 after launching the Mayor’s Cheer Fund at Makoni Shopping Centre on Friday that he is not happy with allegations of corruption over the acquisition of residential stands leveled against some named council officials and other land barons in the satellite town. Mutoti said he fears that he may be fired by Chombo if he probes those officials. Councilor Mutoti, however, said his council will only act on the allegations if an audit team set by Minister Chombo completes its enquiries into the land allocations that resulted in several people building state of the art structures on land not designated for residential purposes. Some of the officials accused by some residents of being involved in land scams in the Chitungwiza municipality include the former deputy mayor of the town, Zanu PF councilor for Ward 23, Fredrick Mabamba. Mabamba said his hands are clean and disputed claims by some residents that he is working in cahoots with Chombo to illegally acquire land in Harare’s dormitory town. Minister Chombo made headlines two years ago when his ex-wife produced a list of properties owned by the senior government official in their acrimonious divorce case. For his part, Chombo told the Herald newspaper two weeks ago that all the properties that he has acquired in his lifetime were not purchased corruptly. Although many Chitungwiza residents are questioning Mabamba’s properties in the town, the Zanu PF councilor revealed that he has also acquired a stand where he intends to build a university starting next year. Among other properties, Mabamba owns several schools and colleges in Chitungwiza and one of the schools was named after him.