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Herald Reporter

Zanu PF has noted with concern the increase in cases of corruption in local authorities, especially on land sales which are done without due process in major cities and towns and called for the prosecution of those involved.

The party raised the red flag on the re-emergence of land barons in Harare and Chitungwiza.

Speaking after the Politburo meeting last week, acting party spokesperson Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the party’s supreme organ had noted the corruption with concern.

“We call upon relevant authorities to take drastic action in dealing with such vices which have seen the re-emergence of illegal settlements fronted by a fresh crop of land barons and baroness,” he said.

“The security of arms of the State should deal decisively with such elements without considering one’s political affiliation.”

The call comes after the Harare City Council last week suspended human resources director and former housing director Matthew Marara and 13 other employees to allow investigations into corruption allegations that could have prejudiced council of US$1,1 million in shoddy land deals in Kuwadzana.

The suspended officials allegedly identified open spaces in Kuwadzana 3,4,5 and 6. There was no application for change of land use.

The group then created fictitious payment schemes and fraudulent layout plans.

Allegations are that they illegally sold 152 stands in Kuwadzana in a deal fraught with irregularities in the approval of plans and production of layout plans prejudicing council of US$1 141 779 in the process.

Cde Chinamasa said: “The party also noted the rampant cases of corruption happening in the local councils, especially those controlled by the opposition in Harare and Chitungwiza where councillors are parcelling out land illegally without an  iota of regard to due process.”

He said there was a new normal in local authorities where sewage was overflowing in residential areas, especially in Harare and Chitungwiza.

“The city councils have created their own new version of the new normal, where people are now living side-by-side with sewage owing to a dilapidated sewer infrastructure and erotic supply,” said Cde Chinamasa.

Cde Chinamasa said there was need for relevant security arms to deal ruthlessly with land barons and baroness.

Some land barons are parcelling out residential stands in wetlands.